Israeli military officials say Iran has launched ballistic missiles carrying cluster munitions toward Israeli territory, marking what they describe as the first reported use of such weapons in the current phase of the conflict. Cluster weapons are widely considered among the most controversial types of modern arms because they disperse multiple smaller explosives across a broad area rather than detonating at a single point.

According to Israeli defence officials, some Iranian missile warheads can release dozens of smaller bomblets while still in the air. In certain cases, a single warhead may carry as many as 80 submunitions that spread fragments and explosive charges over several kilometres. Military analysts warn that this capability changes the nature of the battlefield. Unlike a conventional missile that produces one powerful explosion, a cluster warhead scatters many smaller explosives across a large zone. This significantly increases the danger for civilians and often leaves behind unexploded ordnance that can remain deadly long after an attack.

The reported use of these weapons has also sparked debate over how Iran developed such capabilities. Some Israeli analysts believe external assistance may have played a role, raising speculation that military knowledge or technology could have been transferred from countries such as Russia or China. Israeli officials reported that at least one Iranian ballistic missile carrying cluster munitions struck central Israel during a recent round of attacks. Military reports said the missile’s warhead opened at an altitude of roughly seven kilometres above the ground before releasing about 20 smaller bomblets. These submunitions reportedly spread across an area with a radius of around eight kilometres.

One of the bomblets struck a house in the town of Azor, located south of Tel Aviv. The impact caused structural damage to the property but did not result in any casualties. However, the broader missile barrage caused injuries elsewhere. A missile strike near Tel Aviv left at least 12 people wounded. Reports cited by NBC News indicate that since February 28, Iranian ballistic missile attacks have killed at least 11 people in Israel and injured more than 1,000 others.

The Israeli military also issued warnings to the public about the potential threat posed by unexploded bomblets. Brigadier General Effie Defrin, a spokesperson for the Israeli military, accused Iran of deploying weapons designed to cause widespread harm. He said the weapons were intended to maximize damage across large areas. Iran’s missile campaign has continued throughout the week, although the number of launches has fluctuated. Israeli officials said that on March 3 Iran launched at least six missile barrages toward Israel, the same number reported the previous day. This represents a noticeable drop from February 28, when Israeli authorities recorded about 20 missile barrages in a single day.

Despite the reduced frequency of attacks, defence officials say the use of cluster warheads creates new operational challenges. These weapons scatter explosives across urban environments, making interception more complex and increasing the likelihood that dangerous unexploded fragments will remain on the ground. Israeli officials believe Iran has fired at least five cluster equipped missiles toward Israel since Saturday, many of them targeting densely populated civilian areas. Two such missiles were reportedly launched toward central Israel in a barrage earlier this week, causing damage and injuries across several locations.

Conventional ballistic missiles typically carry a single large warhead weighing between 500 and 1,000 kilograms. Cluster warheads operate differently. Instead of detonating at one point, the missile opens while still in flight and releases numerous smaller bomblets. Each of these submunitions usually contains an explosive charge of up to about seven kilograms. Although each explosion is smaller than that of a traditional warhead, the total destructive area can be much larger because the bomblets spread over a wide region.

Experts say cluster weapons can become even more unpredictable when intercepted mid flight. If a missile completes its path, most of the bomblets are designed to explode upon impact with the ground. But if interception occurs in the air, the bomblets may fall in unpredictable patterns. Some may detonate immediately, while others fail to explode and remain active. These unexploded bomblets represent one of the most serious long term dangers of cluster munitions. A significant portion of them do not detonate when they first hit the ground. Instead, they can remain dormant for years, functioning in effect like improvised landmines that may explode if disturbed by civilians or emergency responders.

Israeli defence officials say Iran first used cluster missiles during a 12 day confrontation between the two countries last June. During that conflict, three cluster missiles were believed to have been launched toward Israel, striking seven different cities. The current war marks the second time such weapons have reportedly been used in clashes between the two nations. Israeli military analysts believe Iran possesses at least three types of missiles capable of carrying cluster warheads. These include the short range Zolfaghar missile, the longer range Qadr series, and the larger Khorramshahr ballistic missile. Among them, the Khorramshahr is considered the most powerful system. Iranian sources claim it has a range of about 2,000 kilometres and can carry up to 80 cluster bomblets.

Iran rarely discusses its cluster munition production publicly. However, various reports suggest the country manufactures such weapons for use with both ballistic missiles and rockets. Iranian state media has stated that the domestically produced Qadr S ballistic missile carries a cluster munition warhead and has a range of around 2,000 kilometres, although details about the number and weight of its submunitions have not been publicly revealed.

Western reports have also suggested that the Zolfaghar ballistic missile may be capable of delivering cluster payloads. In 2015, Iranian authorities displayed a variant of the Fateh missile equipped with 30 submunitions, each weighing about 20 pounds. Other missile systems may also have been adapted to carry similar warheads. Analysts cited by The New York Times have suggested that either a Qiam series missile or a larger Khorramshahr missile may have been used to deliver cluster munitions in a reported attack in June 2025. Iran also produces several unguided rocket systems, including 122 millimetre, 240 millimetre and 333 millimetre rockets, although it remains unclear whether these systems are capable of carrying submunition payloads.

Open source intelligence from Jane's Information Group has indicated that Iran possesses several foreign cluster weapon systems as well. These include KMGU dispensers designed to release submunitions and cluster bombs such as the PROSAB 250 and BL755, which were originally manufactured in the United Kingdom. Iran has never publicly disclosed the size or composition of its cluster weapons stockpile. Cluster weapons have long been the subject of intense international debate. In 2008, more than 100 countries signed the Convention on Cluster Munitions, an international treaty that prohibits the use, production, transfer and stockpiling of such weapons. A total of 111 countries and 12 additional entities have joined the treaty so far.

However, several major military powers are not part of the agreement. Iran and Israel have not signed the convention, and the United States has also chosen not to join it. The issue returned to global attention in 2023 when the United States supplied cluster munitions to Ukraine for use against Russian forces during the ongoing war. Ukrainian officials have also accused Russian troops of deploying similar weapons in the conflict.