How Iran’s cluster munitions are complicating Israel’s air defences

(AP photo)

In the night sky over Israel, some recent missile attacks have produced an unusual and unsettling sight. Instead of a single incoming warhead, observers have seen small orange streaks spreading across the sky before falling toward the ground.

Those streaks are cluster bomblets released from Iranian ballistic missiles. Rather than carrying one large explosive payload, the missile releases many smaller bombs high above the target area. Each bomblet then falls separately, spreading damage over a much wider zone.

According to weapons experts, most of these missiles carry roughly two dozen bomblets, though some larger systems such as the Khorramshahr missile may carry as many as 80. Each small bomb typically contains several kilogrammes of explosives, enough to cause deadly damage within a limited radius.

How cluster munitions work

Cluster munitions are designed to disperse multiple smaller explosives over a broad area, CNN reported. When the missile reaches a certain altitude, its warhead opens and releases the bomblets. Gravity then scatters them across the ground below.

Because they spread widely and fall somewhat unpredictably, cluster munitions are considered inherently indiscriminate weapons. International humanitarian law generally prohibits their use in populated areas.

Human rights organisations have criticised Iran’s use of such weapons in past fighting with Israel, calling them violations of the laws of war. Israel itself has also faced similar accusations in earlier conflicts, including during the 2006 war in Lebanon.

Iran has not publicly commented on its current use of these weapons.

Why they create problems for air defences

Israel has some of the most advanced missile defence systems in the world, including long-range interceptors and the well-known Iron Dome system.

These systems are designed primarily to destroy incoming rockets and missiles before they reach their targets. In many cases they have successfully intercepted Iranian ballistic missiles.

Cluster munitions, however, introduce a complication. Even if the main missile is intercepted, the bomblets may already have been released before the interception occurs. Once they are dispersed, they are much harder to stop.

Each bomblet is small, moves quickly and may fall at different angles. Intercepting dozens of small explosives scattered across a wide area is far more difficult than destroying one incoming missile.

In some situations, the Iron Dome system can attempt to intercept these bomblets. But defence experts say success is not guaranteed because of the short time available to react.

A different strategy from earlier attacks

In earlier confrontations, Iran often relied on launching large barrages of missiles in an attempt to overwhelm Israel’s defences through sheer numbers.

But Israeli and American strikes have targeted Iran’s missile launch infrastructure during the current conflict, potentially limiting the number of missiles it can fire at once.

Cluster munitions may therefore represent a different tactic. Instead of firing many missiles, Iran can attempt to cause widespread disruption using fewer missiles that release multiple bomblets.

Missile specialist Tal Inbar says the approach could allow Iran to inflict damage even with a limited number of launches.

If a single missile spreads dozens of bomblets over a city or suburb, it can still create significant danger and force people into shelters across a large area.

The psychological and economic impact

Beyond the immediate damage, these weapons also have a broader effect. A single missile equipped with cluster munitions can send millions of Israelis rushing into bomb shelters as warning sirens sound. Even when casualties are limited, the attacks disrupt daily life and keep civilians under constant pressure.

There is also a strategic calculation behind such attacks. Each time Israel intercepts incoming threats, it must use expensive interceptor missiles. Those interceptors are limited in number and costly to replace.

By forcing Israel to launch multiple interceptors against a single missile or its bomblets, Iran may be attempting to stretch those defences over time.

In that sense, the cluster munition strategy is not only about physical damage. It is also part of a longer campaign of attrition aimed at wearing down Israel’s defences and the resilience of its civilian population.