The world already has a global treaty banning cluster munitions, which are particularly dangerous to civilians. But countries need to follow the treaty’s lead and adopt their own laws against the weapons at home. Cluster munitions disperse dozens or hundreds of submunitions. Many of the submunitions do not explode on impact and thus linger, like de facto landmines, killing or injuring civilians long after the initial attack.
Credible evidence has emerged that Islamic State forces used ground-fired cluster munitions in at least one location in northern Syria in recent weeks.Russia's President Vladimir Putin issued a seven-point peace plan for eastern Ukraine, although fighting continued on the ground. The move comes on the eve before a Nato summit focusing on Russia’s role in stoking the flames in Ukraine. Despite the proposed ceasefire, France has halted the delivery of a warship to Russia, citing the Ukraine conflict.
As Russia's aggression in Ukraine jangles the nerves of its other Eastern European neighbors, US President Barack pledged that Nato would defend the Baltic States from Moscow.
Both Ukrainian forces and Russian-backed rebels are contributing to the rising death toll of civilians in the eastern Ukrainian city of Luhansk.
