What are Iran’s cluster munitions that are penetrating Israeli defences?

Key Points:

• Following the assassination of Iranian security chief Ali Larijani by Israel, Iran retaliated with deadly cluster missile attacks on central Israel, killing two and injuring several near Tel Aviv, highlighting the increased use of cluster munitions in the ongoing conflict.
• Cluster munitions disperse multiple bomblets over wide areas, making them difficult to defend against and causing extensive damage and civilian harm; Iran has integrated these weapons into a significant portion of its missile arsenal, escalating the threat to Israeli cities.
• While cluster munitions are not banned internationally, 111 countries have signed the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions prohibiting their use; Israel, Iran, and the US are not signatories, and the weapons pose long-term dangers due to unexploded bomblets that can harm civilians years after deployment.
• Other conflicts have seen cluster munition use, including the Russia-Ukraine war, where the US supplied cluster bombs to Ukraine, and Israel’s past use in Lebanon and Syria, raising ongoing humanitarian and legal concerns about their impact on civilian populations.
• Human rights groups and international organizations warn that cluster munitions cause indiscriminate harm, particularly in urban areas, and their unexploded remnants pose persistent risks, emphasizing the weapon's controversial nature despite their military utility.