This article looks at 16 weapons so dangerous, cruel, or indiscriminate that they were banned from warfare altogether. Some caused long-term physical or environmental damage, while others targeted civilians without distinction. These weapons not only changed how wars were fought but also forced global leaders to reconsider what should and shouldn’t be allowed in modern conflict. Here are 16 weapons that were banned from warfare.
1. Mustard Gas
Mustard gas was first used in World War I and is infamous for causing agonizing burns, blistering wounds, and lasting damage. Its horrific impact led to its prohibition under the 1925 Geneva Protocol and later the Chemical Weapons Convention. Even decades later, it remains a symbol of chemical warfare’s inhumanity.
2. Sarin
Sarin is a silent and lethal nerve gas developed before World War II that can kill within minutes by paralyzing the nervous system. Its extreme toxicity earned it a spot on the Chemical Weapons Convention’s Schedule 1 list.
3. Cluster Bombs
Cluster bombs scatter smaller explosives over a wide area, but many fail to detonate, leaving hidden dangers for years. They were banned under the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions due to their threat to civilians. These weapons cause suffering long after a war has ended.
4. Anti-Personnel Landmines
Landmines like the M14 and PFM1 are designed to hurt rather than kill, and they often remain active decades after conflict. The 1997 Ottawa Treaty bans their use, and most countries have complied, though some have not.
5. DumDum Bullets
These expanding bullets cause massive tissue damage upon impact, making them especially cruel. They were banned in 1899 under the Hague Declaration for causing unnecessary suffering. Their use has long been considered a violation of the laws of war.
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6. Poisoned Bullets
Bullets coated with poison were banned under the same convention as dumdum rounds for being particularly inhumane. Their goal is to inflict slow, painful death rather than neutralize an enemy quickly. Even in war, some weapons go too far.
7. Blinding Laser Weapons
These weapons are not banned because they kill but because they cause permanent blindness. Protocol IV of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons outlawed them in 1995. The focus was on protecting human dignity even in conflict.
8. Weaponized Anthrax
Anthrax spores were developed as a biological weapon capable of wiping out entire populations. It was banned under the 1972 Biological Weapons Convention along with other bioweapons.
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9. Botulinum Toxin
This naturally occurring toxin is the most lethal known to science and can cause death in minuscule doses. Its weaponization was outlawed under the Biological Weapons Convention. It represents the terrifying intersection of biology and war. Today, Botox is derived from the toxin.
10. Ricin
Extracted from castor beans, ricin is a deadly poison with no civilian use. It is banned under the Chemical Weapons Convention and classified as a Schedule 1 agent. Its lethality lies in its simplicity and ease of concealment.
11. Novichok Agents
Novichok nerve agents were developed in secret by the Soviet Union and used in recent high-profile poisonings. They were officially added to the Chemical Weapons Convention’s list of banned substances in 2020. Their modern use underscores the need for constant vigilance.
12. Napalm
Napalm sticks to things and burns at extreme temperatures. Its use against civilians was limited under Protocol III of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons. The fire it brings lasts far longer than the flames.
13. Poisoned Spike Traps
Used in jungle warfare, punji stakes were sometimes coated with toxins or waste to cause infections. Such booby traps are banned under international humanitarian law due to their indiscriminate nature. They symbolize warfare at its most primitive.
14. KnockOut Gas
Used in hostage situations like the Moscow theater siege, these gases can cause unconsciousness, or worse. Their use in warfare violates the Chemical Weapons Convention. The risk to civilians makes them a legal and moral hazard.
15. Sulfur Mustard Rockets
Sulfur mustard in rocket form was used during the Iran-Iraq War with devastating results. This abuse helped solidify its ban under the Chemical Weapons Convention. Delivery systems can make an already banned substance even more dangerous.
16. Anti-Crop Anthrax Bombs
Designed to wipe out crops and starve populations, these weapons target survival itself. The Biological Weapons Convention bans their use as a form of indirect mass suffering. Famine as warfare is still war.
Want to see more wartime content?
Check out 20 Military Photos From The Forties, or take a look at The War Years Reimagined: Colorized Photos From the Vietnam War. Finally, if you want to see WWII Generals who changed history, check out 20 World War II Generals Who Changed History.
