Israel-Iran Conflict: How Cluster Bombs Work And Why They’re Controversial

New Delhi:
As tensions escalate between Israel and Iran, a new point of concern has emerged—cluster munitions. Israel has accused Iran of launching a missile armed with a cluster bomb warhead at a civilian zone. According to reports, the missile began dispersing submunitions at an altitude of 23,000 feet (about 7 km), spreading at least 20 bomblets across an 8-km radius.

Here are key details on cluster bombs and the controversy surrounding them:

1. Damage Reported in Azor:
   One of the bomblets hit a residential property in the town of Azor in central Israel, causing property damage. Fortunately, no casualties have been reported.
2. Why They’re Controversial:
   Cluster bombs are highly criticized because they scatter multiple smaller explosives, or bomblets, over a wide area. These submunitions often fail to detonate on impact, remaining active and posing a deadly threat for years after a conflict.
3. Global Ban Not Universally Adopted:
   A 2008 international treaty bans the use, production, and transfer of cluster munitions. Signed by 111 countries and 12 organizations, it has not been joined by Israel or Iran, both of which continue to hold stockpiles.
4. Usage in Other Conflicts:
   Despite their global condemnation, cluster munitions continue to be used. In 2023, the United States supplied Ukraine with these weapons for use against Russian forces. Ukraine and Western allies claim Russia has also employed cluster bombs in the ongoing war.
5. Long-Term Threat to Civilians:
   Experts warn of the dangers cluster bombs pose, especially in populated regions. Daryl Kimball, head of the Arms Control Association, noted, “These weapons have devastating wide-area effects and often leave behind unexploded ordnance that can injure or kill civilians long after the fighting ends.”

As the Israel-Iran conflict continues to unfold, the use of such munitions raises alarm not just for immediate harm but for their long-term humanitarian consequences.

News Source : Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.