HRW: Syrian forces drop incendiary bombs on populated areasDecember 12, 2012 - 18:07 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Syrian forces have dropped incendiary bombs on populated areas, Human Rights Watch said on Wednesday, calling on the authorities to stop using a weapon that causes "especially cruel human suffering", Reuters reported. Most of the weapons found appeared to be two kinds of Soviet models, one of which releases 48 incendiary submunitions over an area the size of a football field, it said. Incendiary weapons contain flammable materials such as napalm, thermite or white phosphorous, which can set fire to buildings or cause severe burns and respiratory damage. "These weapons cause especially cruel civilian suffering and extensive property destruction when used in populated areas," said Steve Goose, director of the arms division of the New York-based rights group. "Syria should stop using incendiary weapons in acknowledgment of the devastating harm these weapons cause." The group said it based its findings on interviews with witnesses and by analyzing videos uploaded by activists. It concluded that at least four areas had been hit by such bombs - two towns near the capital Damascus, one in the northern province of Idlib and a town in central Homs province. HRW is still investigating use of the weapons in other areas. The injury caused by incendiary bombs is compounded in hard hit areas in Syria, where infrastructure has been destroyed by clashes in its 20-month-old revolt and hospitals in rebel-held areas have been badly by army shelling. "The burns are difficult to treat, especially in conflict areas lacking adequate medical facilities, and the treatment itself can be excruciating," the HRW report said. "Permanent scarring and disfigurement can lead to social ostracism." The bombs used by Syrian government forces mostly contained thermite, HRW said, citing independent arms analyst Nic Jenzen-Jones. "Thermite is used only for its incendiary effect and not for marking, obscuring, illumination or other purposes," HRW said. Activist accounts described bombs dropped from Russian MiG fighter jets, exploding in mid-air before releasing fireballs over a wider area. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Exclusive access to all EURO 2024 games for Ucom subscribers This year once again Ucom stands as the primary partner of UEFA EURO 2024 in Armenia. Pashinyan congratulates Putin on Russia Day Nikol Pashinyan sent congratulatory messages to Vladimir Putin and Mikhail Mishustin on the occasion of Russia Day. Armenia, U.S. to upgrade Strategic Dialogue meeting to Strategic Partnership Commission The two governments have release a statement on the occasion of the U.S.-Armenia Strategic Dialogue Capstone meeting. Azerbaijan complains to Germany about Armenia's constitution Bayramov has complained about the Armenian constitution to his German counterpart Annalena Berbock. |