What are cluster bombs, reportedly fired by Iran on Israel

Jun 20, 2025 Khushi Kumari

For the first time in this seven-day conflict, Israel accuses Iran of firing a missile armed with cluster munitions targeting civilian areas

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What Are Cluster Bombs? These are large shells filled with hundreds of smaller bomblets that disperse over wide areas when released mid-air

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Wide-Area Destruction Designed to impact a broad zone, cluster bombs can cover several football fields and are notoriously non-precision

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Unexploded Ordnance Hazard Submunitions often fail to detonate immediately, posing deadly risks to civilians long after the conflict ends

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The missile scattered approximately 20 submunitions over an 8 km radius in central Israel, with one bomb hitting a house in Azor

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One of the cluster-laden missiles struck near Soroka Medical Center, causing damage and injuring civilians

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Over 100 countries have banned cluster bombs under the 2008 Convention due to their indiscriminate and lasting harm

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First used in WWII and extensively stockpiled during the Cold War, these weapons have a long history of civilian destruction

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The use of cluster munitions in populated areas breaches international humanitarian law, triggering worldwide outrage

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