In brief
The Israeli military reported that Iran launched a missile armed with cluster munitions targeting central Israel, violating international norms.
On June 19, 2025, the Israeli military announced that Iran had launched a missile equipped with cluster munitions targeting a populated area in central Israel. According to Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani, this marks the first instance of such weaponry being utilized in the ongoing conflict between the two nations. The missile reportedly struck Or Yehuda and surrounding towns, but fortunately, there were no fatalities or confirmed injuries from the attack.Cluster munitions are notorious for causing indiscriminate harm, as their warheads disperse multiple bomblets upon detonation. Over 100 countries have ratified a 2008 treaty to prohibit their use, although neither Israel nor Iran is a signatory. Furthermore, major world powers including the United States, Russia, China, and India have also not adopted this ban.Verified images and videos showcased an unexploded bomblet situated on the patio of an apartment complex in Or Yehuda after the missile assault. Experts have pointed out that the object closely resembles submunitions widely used in Iranian ballistic missiles since 2014. Fabian Hinz, a research fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London, noted that the accuracy of such missiles may be lacking, prompting the use of area dispersal in attacks on less fortified targets, like air-defense systems.As the situation continues to unfold, experts and international observers remain concerned about the implications of such militarized tactics on civilian populations and regional stability.
