Hezbollah Fired Cluster Munitions into Israeli Town in March

Hezbollah fired widely banned cluster munitions into the northern Israeli town of Metula on March 4 and again on March 15, 2026. Human Rights Watch documented the attacks, which occurred during a major escalation in the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah that began on March 2.

"Cluster munitions should not be used under any circumstances, and their use may amount to a war crime," said Patrick Thompson, a crisis, conflict and arms researcher at Human Rights Watch. The group states the weapons are inherently indiscriminate, with unexploded bomblets posing a long-term threat to civilians.

Documenting the March 4 Attack

Human Rights Watch researchers visited Metula in May 2026 and confirmed the use of cluster munitions through site analysis and witness interviews. The March 4 attack struck a residential street near the town's cemetery.

A resident named Hagai, 57, said his family ran to their shelter as sirens sounded around 4 p.m. They heard multiple explosions just after closing the shelter door. Israeli soldiers later instructed them to stay inside overnight while crews cleared submunitions. The attack damaged Hagai's two cars beyond repair, landed a submunition on his roof, broke twelve windows, and cut two water pipes.

"My son plays basketball here," Hagai said. "If the ball goes down the hill into the grass, I tell him to leave it." Military counts indicated approximately 50 impact craters. Researchers identified seven craters consistent with submunition impacts and analyzed journalist photographs showing more. Fragmentation also damaged windows at a house about 50 meters away.

Evidence and Weapon Type

On March 4, an Israeli police spokesperson reported a cluster munition strike, sharing a photograph of what appears to be an unexploded BRB1-type submunition. This submunition is dispensed from a 122mm rocket reportedly containing between 45 to 56 bomblets.

Human Rights Watch could not geolocate that specific photo but confirmed no online version predated the attack. The witness report of roughly 50 impacts aligns with the BRB1 system's capacity. These same submunitions were identified in southern Lebanon in September 2024.

The March 15 Strike and Wider Context

The second cluster munition attack hit near Metula's entrance on March 15. A resident heard multiple near-simultaneous explosions and was notified via a security WhatsApp group that a cluster munition had fallen. The army told residents to stay indoors for 24 hours during clearance operations.

Researchers found one consistent impact crater and geolocated a Telegram video from that day showing about 30 small explosions around the entrance gate. No civilian casualties or major infrastructure damage was reported from either attack. Hezbollah claimed responsibility for rocket attacks on those dates but denied to Human Rights Watch that it used or possessed cluster munitions.

The wider conflict has had severe human costs. According to Lebanon's Health Ministry, Israeli attacks have killed at least 4,381 people in Lebanon since the escalation began, including 261 children, 399 women, and 135 medical workers. Israel's displacement orders have forced over one million people from their homes. Hezbollah rocket attacks in northern Israel between March and June killed two civilians, according to a Times of Israel report.

Legal Violations and Treaty Status

Hezbollah, as a non-state armed group, is bound by international humanitarian law despite not being formally party to the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions, which 112 states have joined. Lebanon is a state party to the convention.

The laws of war require distinguishing between military targets and civilians, and taking all feasible precautions to avoid civilian harm. Using cluster munitions in populated areas violates the principles of distinction and precaution. Intentionally directing such attacks against civilians is a war crime.

Human Rights Watch has previously documented both Israeli and Hezbollah use of cluster munitions. Israel is not a party to the convention. The group calls on all parties to abide by the laws of war and for Israel to join the treaty and cease using the weapons. Unexploded submunitions from the March attacks continue to endanger Metula's residents.