Israel Says Iran Used Cluster Bombs. Here’s What They Do

Cluster munitions have drawn renewed attention after Israel said Iran has been firing the weapons during the current conflict.

Unlike conventional missiles, cluster bombs are designed to break apart in mid-air and release multiple smaller explosives, known as bomblets, across a wide area.

According to the Associated Press, a “parent” munition opens at high altitude and scatters submunitions that can spread from hundreds of meters to several kilometers. The Israeli military says some of the warheads it has detected contain between 20 and 24 bomblets, each carrying explosive material.

Defense experts say these weapons can be difficult to intercept once the bomblets disperse. Even if air defense systems destroy the missile itself, the smaller explosives may already be falling toward the ground.

Another major concern is that some bomblets fail to explode on impact. According to the Convention on Cluster Munitions, unexploded submunitions can remain dangerous long after a conflict ends, posing risks similar to land mines.

Because the explosives scatter widely, critics argue that cluster munitions cannot reliably distinguish between military targets and civilians.

More than 120 countries have signed an international treaty banning cluster munitions, according to the Convention on Cluster Munitions, although Iran, Israel and the United States are not among the signatories.