France, May 20 -- The weapons were dropped at least twice last week during anti-terror operations in northern Mali, according to local sources, security specialists and a rights group which documented the attacks.

The first strike happened last Friday at Oubder, near In-Gouzma, in the Timbuktu region. The second happened on Sunday at Tadjmart, near Aguelhoc, in the Kidal region.

Cluster munitions release large numbers of smaller explosives over wide areas. Many fail to detonate immediately and can remain deadly long after fighting ends.

Images obtained by RFI allowed specialists to identify a Russian-made RBK-500 cluster bomb and ShOAB-0.5 bomblets - weapons of the same type that have also been used in Syria and Ukraine.

Mali's army p...