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Cluster Bomb? The Controversial Weapon Iran Allegedly Used Against Israel On June 19

What Is A Cluster Bomb? The Controversial Weapon Iran Allegedly Used Against Israel On June 19

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by

Sumit Sharma
in

As the war between Iran and Israel entered its eighth day on Friday, both countries fired barrages of missiles at each other. One of the missiles fired by Iran raised concerns, as several reports claimed it was armed with cluster bombs. If these reports are accurate, it would mark the first time such a weapon has been used in the ongoing conflict.

Even the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) claimed that one of the projectiles used by Iran contained a cluster bomb, according to NDTV.

What Is a Cluster Bomb?

A cluster bomb is a type of explosive weapon that releases or ejects smaller submunitions, often called bomblets, over a wide area. These weapons are controversial due to their indiscriminate nature and the long-term danger posed by unexploded ordnance (UXO).

Cluster Bombs Used by Iran

Iran is believed to possess cluster munitions, although detailed official records of their use or inventory have not been publicly confirmed.

However, here’s what is known:

Types of Cluster Munitions Linked to Iran

Chinese or Soviet-Origin Bombs:

  • Iran reportedly has older Soviet-made RBK-series cluster bombs and Chinese Type-2 cluster munitions in its inventory.
  • These were likely acquired before or during the Iran-Iraq War (1980s).

Locally Manufactured Variants:

  • Iran’s defense industry, under the Aerospace Industries Organization (AIO) and the Defense Industries Organization (DIO), has developed various indigenous versions of cluster weapons.
  • These may be adapted for use with:
    • Missiles (e.g., Fateh-110)
    • Artillery shells
    • Aerial bombs

Dispersal Munitions for Drones or Missiles:

  • Some reports and analyses suggest that Iranian ballistic missiles (such as Zolfaghar or Shahab-2) could be equipped with submunition warheads.
  • Iran-backed militias (e.g., Hezbollah or the Houthis) may also use Iran-supplied rockets with cluster munitions.

Has Iran Used Cluster Bombs in Combat?

Iran itself has not been confirmed to have used cluster bombs in recent wars.
However, Iran-backed groups (e.g., the Houthis in Yemen) have reportedly used cluster munitions or similar submunition-based weapons.

International Law and Iran

The 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) bans the production, use, transfer, and stockpiling of such weapons. So far, a total of 111 countries have signed the CCM. However, some key nations—including the United States, Israel, and Iran—have not signed the treaty.

Many human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, have called on Iran to join the CCM.

Cluster munitions are designed to cause destruction over a wide area, making them particularly dangerous in civilian-populated zones.

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