November 12, 2006
Radioactive weapons used in Lebanon
There is a report that Israel may have used some kind of uranium-based weapon in Lebanon during the recent conflict. It is not exactly clear the nature of the weapon used, as the yield was low enough to avoid immediate suspicion and the results of testing done in the area are apparently downright odd. Some suspect that it may be a "thermobaric" weapon that essentially burns uranium the same way a conventional weapon burns TNT, a chemical rather than a nuclear reaction. Another possibility is the use of a fairly standard bunker-buster fortified with uranium to increase its penetration capabilities.
No one is suggesting the use of a standard fission- or fusion-based nuclear weapon, as such a device would have been immediately detectable.
It is worth pointing out that both of the above links are from sources that I would classify as being highly suspect, but the allegation is serious regardless of the source.
