The US military has called off a planned 2019 ban on using certain cluster bombs, which release explosive sub-munitions, or bomblets.
The Department of Defense said on Thursday the US military considers cluster bombs a legitimate and important weapon, and warded off criticism which said cluster bombs kill indiscriminately and pose hazards to civilians.
“The Department of Defense has determined that cluster munitions remain a vital military capability in the tougher warfighting environment ahead of us, while still a relatively safe one,” Pentagon spokesman Tom Crossen said in a statement.
US officials told Reuters on Thursday that safety improvements in munitions technology failed to advance enough to replace existing stockpiles with safer weaponry.
“Although the Department seeks to field a new generation of more highly reliable munitions, we cannot risk mission failure or accept the potential of increased military and civilian…