Missiles fired from Iran recently hit the city of Tel Aviv, causing heavy damage to residential areas. According to the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), at least one of the missiles carried a deadly cluster bomb warhead. This new claim points to the use of banned and dangerous weapons in the growing conflict between Iran and Israel.
The missile attack happened late on June 19, breaking the silence of the night. Multiple explosions shook the city, leaving buildings in ruins and civilians injured. The IDF believes one of the missiles carried a cluster munition—a type of weapon that spreads many small bombs over a wide area.
The cluster bomb was hidden inside a ballistic missile, making it even more dangerous. These types of weapons explode in the air, about 7,000 to 8,000 meters above the ground. Once they burst, they release smaller bomblets that scatter across several kilometers. Some of these bomblets explode on impact, while others remain hidden and unexploded for weeks, months, or even years.
This makes them extremely risky. They can lie in wait underground, exploding later when someone unknowingly steps on them. In this way, they act like landmines and continue to kill or injure long after a war ends.
The IDF has not shared more technical details about the missile, but experts believe it could be part of Iran’s secret missile fleet. Two models that may have been used are the Khaibar and Fajr-3 ballistic missiles. Both are capable of carrying cluster warheads.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has not commented on the IDF’s claim. The silence from Tehran adds mystery to the already tense situation.
The use of cluster bombs has been a concern for years. In 2008, over 100 countries signed an agreement called the Convention on Cluster Munitions. This treaty bans the use, storage, and movement of these weapons. But some major powers did not sign the agreement. These include the United States, Russia, China, Israel, and Iran. As a result, they are not legally bound to follow the ban.
Military analysts say only a few countries have access to modern cluster munitions. These include the US, Russia, China, and possibly Iran. Though rarely used in recent years, the presence of such weapons raises global fears of a wider and deadlier war.
The use of a cluster bomb in Tel Aviv would mark a serious escalation. These weapons do not just hit military targets—they harm civilians, destroy homes, and leave lasting threats. Children and farmers are often the victims of unexploded bomblets that remain buried in the ground.
According to war experts, these weapons cause more harm than good. They are unpredictable and hard to control once launched. That’s why so many nations have decided to ban them.
Still, some countries continue to develop and store them as part of their defense systems. In the case of Iran, it is believed that cluster technology is already part of its ballistic missile program. While proof is hard to get, recent explosions and damage in Tel Aviv give weight to the IDF’s latest report.
As global leaders call for peace, many are also urging countries to stop using weapons that target civilians. The events of June 19 could now push more nations to review their own weapon policies and rethink their stance on cluster munitions.
Until then, families in Tel Aviv are left to deal with the damage and danger caused by these deadly weapons. Clean-up crews are working to remove unexploded devices, but the risk remains. For now, the fear of more attacks hangs heavy over the region.
