Tel Aviv: Iran has reportedly used ballistic missiles carrying cluster munitions in its latest strikes against Israel, raising fresh concerns about the escalation of the ongoing conflict and prompting speculation over whether Russia or China may have helped Tehran develop the technology, according to Israeli officials and military analysts.
Israeli military officials, as reported by NDTV, said the use of cluster weapons marked the first time such munitions have been deployed in the current war between Iran and Israel. Cluster bombs are among the most controversial modern weapons because they release multiple smaller explosives over a wide area, significantly increasing the risk to civilians.
According to Israeli defence officials, some Iranian cluster missile warheads can disperse dozens of smaller submunitions mid-air, spreading explosive fragments across several kilometres. Military analysts say the weapons change the dynamics of the conflict because instead of a single explosion at one point, they scatter numerous bomblets across a large zone.
Israeli military spokesperson Brigadier General Effie Defrin warned that Iran had deployed weapons designed to maximise harm to civilians. The Israeli military also issued public advisories about the dangers posed by unexploded submunitions, which can remain lethal long after fighting ends.
The development has also triggered debate among defence experts about how Iran acquired the capability to deploy such advanced cluster munitions, particularly given the repeated targeting of scientists linked to the country’s weapons programmes. Israeli experts have suggested that external assistance may have played a role, leading to speculation about possible technology transfers from Russia or China.
The use of cluster weapons remains controversial internationally because unexploded bomblets can continue to threaten civilians long after conflicts end, and many countries have signed international agreements restricting their use.
