“Hardly a day goes by when our senses are not bludgeoned by some new outbreak of terrorism in the Middle East.  Despite our best efforts at making and keeping the peace, political, economic, and religious tensions often lead to unrest, violence, and riots.”

-Jim Bakker in “Prosperity and the Coming Apocalypse”

Human Rights Watch has reported that Syrian government forces are dropping Russian-made cluster bombs on populated areas in an attempt to destroy rebel forces.

Cluster bombs are banned by 77 countries because of the threat they pose to civilian populations in war zones. For example, if a cluster bomb does not completely detonate upon impact, the remaining bombs can act as land mines and explode when picked up or stepped on.

“Syria’s disregard for its civilian population is all too evident in its air campaign,” Human Rights Watch’s arms director Steve Goose told the BBC. “Which now apparently includes dropping these deadly cluster bombs into populated areas.”

Each bomblet is similar in size to a Pepsi or Coke 12 ounce can and contains metal shrapnel. When these bombs explode they can cause fatal wounds to people just over 80 feet from the explosion site.

Rebel forces made a large gain over the weekend in capturing the town of Maarat al-Nuaman and a highway that is a main path for government reinforcements in Aleppo.