Israel accuses Iran of 'repeatedly' using cluster bombs.
On March 7, Israel accused Iran of "repeatedly" using cluster munitions since the outbreak of hostilities. These weapons are globally controversial due to their widespread destructive power and long-lasting consequences for civilians.
The ongoing conflict in the Middle East began with the US-Israel coalition's attack on Iranian targets last weekend. To date, the fighting continues to escalate with mutual accusations of the use of banned weapons.
In a press conference, Israeli military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani confirmed that Iranian forces are deploying cluster munitions (cluster bombs).
Although he did not provide details about when or where these weapons were used, Shoshani emphasized: "They have used this type of weapon many times. It is a war crime to target civilians and we are closely monitoring the situation."
Cluster bombs are weapons that detonate in mid-air, scattering dozens to hundreds of smaller bombs (balloons) over a wide area.
Many of these bombs do not explode immediately upon impact with the ground, turning into delayed-action landmines that cause long-term casualties, especially to children.
On the evening of March 5th, videos recorded by AFP showed a cluster of fiery projectiles falling from the night sky in central Israel. The Israeli military confirmed that the images in the video were indeed cluster bombs.
Agreeing with this assessment, strategic weapons expert Etienne Marcuz of the French Foundation for Strategic Research said that the footage shows the cluster munitions appearing to be carried by a medium-range ballistic missile, and that it is "very likely" an Iranian missile.
Israeli police announced on March 4th that bomb disposal teams had found evidence of cluster munitions after their warning system detected incoming missiles from Iran. Police issued an urgent alert, warning residents about the dangers of cluster bombs and other unexploded ordnance.
Currently, the areas hit by the shelling are sealed off, prohibiting civilians and the press from accessing them until the debris from the missiles and unexploded ordnance is cleared.
In fact, neither Iran nor Israel are among the more than 100 countries that signed the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions – an international treaty that prohibits the use, transfer, manufacture, and stockpiling of this type of weapon.
In the past, both sides have faced similar allegations.
Amnesty International analyzed images, videos, and media reports, confirming that Iran used cluster bombs at least three times during its 12-day war with Israel in June 2025.
