Iran uses cluster bomb missile for first time in conflict - What they are and why they're controversial

Iran uses cluster bombs in missile strike, aiming to maximise civilian harm (Image: AFP)

Iran has used a missile armed with cluster munitions, marking the first reported use of such a weapon since the conflict began. According to the Israeli military and its embassy in Washington, the missile scattered small bomblets designed to increase civilian casualties.

While Israeli military officials provided no further details, local news reports cited the military as saying the missile’s warhead split open at an altitude of about 4 miles (7 kilometers), releasing approximately 20 submunitions over a 5-mile (8-kilometer) radius in central Israel.

According to Reuters, the Israeli embassy stated, “Today, the Iranian Armed Forces fired a missile that contained cluster submunitions at a densely populated civilian area in Israel.”

Check Israel Iran top updates here.

The report further explained that cluster munitions are intended to spread over a wide area to increase the likelihood of casualties. Reuters quoted, “Cluster weapons are designed to disperse over a large area and maximize the chances of a harmful strike.”

“Iran unlawfully fired deliberately at civilian population centers, and seeks to maximize the damage to civilians in them by using wide-dispersal munitions.”

What are cluster bombs, and why are they considered controversial?

Cluster bombs are considered controversial because they disperse multiple smaller explosives, or submunitions, over a broad area, which can result in damage to unintended targets.

These munitions lack guidance systems and are designed to detonate upon impact. Although each submunition has a relatively small blast radius, but together they can blanket large zones.

However, not all submunitions explode as intended. Some remain active on the ground, posing a long-term threat to civilians. According to the Israeli military, many of the submunitions from the recent attack did not detonate. The Israeli military released a visual warning to alert the public about the dangers of unexploded ordnance.

"They are egregious weapons with their wide-area destruction, especially if used in a civilian populated area and could add to the unexploded ordnance left over from conflicts," said Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association advocacy group.

While no casualties have been reported so far, the use of cluster munitions in this conflict is likely to draw significant international concern.

(With agency inputs)