Conflicted arms dealers
The precarious ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel is holding, but only just. And it’s often the countries brokering peace deals, who are also the ones supplying the arms. The US, France, Russia and Germany are the four biggest arms manufacturers and exporters in the world today. In terms of arms supplies in the recent conflict, the US fits out Israel with state-of-the-art fighter jets, helicopters and missiles. Germany previously delivered a couple of submarines, and is a regular supplier of engines, components, and special weapons technology. Hezbollah on the other hand, has received Russian and possibly Chinese weapons supplied by Syria and Iran. Siemon Wezeman Head of the Arms Transfer Project at SIPRI, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute discusses what kind of responsibility weapons suppliers have for the final use of their deadly merchandise.