Pyongyang claims missile tests included cluster-warhead payloads
North Korea announced that its latest weapons tests included missiles equipped with cluster-bomb warheads, signaling ongoing arms development and prompting regional security concerns.
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Cluster Munitions
All articles tagged with #cluster munitions
Iran fires cluster-munition missiles at central Israel in retaliation for Larijani’s death
Iran reportedly fired multi‑warhead cluster missiles at central Israel after the assassination of IRGC security chief Ali Larijani, killing a couple in the Ramat Gan area near Tel Aviv and injuring others as shrapnel caused damage; analysts say cluster warheads spread bomblets to saturate targets and complicate interception, creating a wider zone of destruction and civilian risk from unexploded ordnance. The piece explains what cluster munitions are, surveys Iran’s missile capabilities, and discusses the legal debate around their use—not universally banned, but prohibited in the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions by many states, with Israel and Iran not signatories—placing the incident in a broader pattern of cluster munition use in conflicts and highlighting Iran’s apparent integration of cluster payloads into its arsenal.
Dimona Roof Collapse as Iran-Linked Barrage Strikes Israel
A building in Dimona collapsed after an Iranian munition struck southern Israel amid a wider missile barrage from Iran and Lebanon, with at least 54 people injured at the scene and 21 treated for shrapnel; a fire followed a separate hit in Kfar Vradim, and other strikes damaged homes in Ma’alot-Tarshiha and Rishon Lezion as Israel braces for ongoing attacks under Operation Roaring Lion.
Israel warns on Iranian cluster bombs, issues safety guidance amid rocket sirens
Israel’s former Fire and Rescue Authority chief warns that Iranian cluster bombs are highly dangerous, capable of wide-area damage, and provides safety guidance: do not touch fragments or interception debris, move to safe areas during sirens, avoid stopping under bridges, and remain vigilant for suspicious objects after interceptions.
Israel accuses Iran of deploying cluster munitions in missiles
Israel says Iran is using cluster munitions, supported by AP video showing Iranian missiles dropping bomblets over Israel; the article explains that cluster munitions release many submunitions over wide areas and carry serious humanitarian risks, noting missiles were observed over central Israel in March 2026.
Iran-backed Hezbollah joins coordinated strikes on Israel, signaling regional escalation
Fox News reports that Hezbollah and Iran have launched a coordinated strike strategy against Israel, including the use of cluster munitions, as Tel Aviv experiences missile fire and sirens. Analysts warn Hezbollah has joined the war and is coordinating with Iran, marking a potential escalation in the Iran–Israel conflict amid ongoing U.S.-Israeli actions against Iran and broader regional tensions.
IDF: Half of Iran’s missiles in current Israel war are cluster munitions
The IDF says about 50% of Iran’s ballistic missiles fired at Israel in the ongoing conflict are cluster munitions, a shift from 2025 when most missiles weren’t. Cluster munitions can spread many smaller bombs over a wide area, changing its damage profile. The IDF defended its warning system as prioritizing lives while noting it sometimes excludes very unlikely targets from alerts, and it also reported a separate incident where two Hezbollah missiles hit central Israel due to a technical fault but were largely intercepted.
Iran’s cluster-munition strike leaves central Israel reeling: one dead, two seriously wounded
An Iranian barrage, reportedly using cluster munitions, struck central Israel, killing one person and seriously wounding two others as at least six sites were hit; casualties were evacuated to Sheba Medical Center, electricity infrastructure was damaged, and power outages were reported across northern and central Israel.
Pentagon Bets Big on Israeli Cluster Munition Upgrade in $210 Million No-Bid Deal
The Pentagon signed a $210 million, no-bid contract with Israel's state-owned Tomer to develop the XM1208 cluster munition, a record arms purchase from Israel. While the shells are designed to have a low dud rate, critics warn cluster weapons are inherently indiscriminate and dangerous long after conflict, and the award bypassed public competition under a public-interest exception.
Escalating Middle East Conflicts: Iran, Israel, and Houthi Clashes
The Houthis' use of cluster munitions in ballistic missile strikes against Israel marks a significant escalation, highlighting advancements in proxy warfare, regional threats, and challenges to Israel's air defense systems, with implications for strategic deterrence and civil resilience.
IDF Strikes Yemen After Houthi Use of Cluster Munitions Against Israel
The IDF launched strikes in Yemen after confirming that Houthi rebels used banned cluster munitions in a missile attack on Israel, marking the first known use of such weapons by Houthis against Israel, prompting retaliatory strikes on Houthi military targets in Yemen.
Iran-Israel Conflict Escalates with Missile Attacks and Hypersonic Threats
Israel's military accused Iran of launching a missile armed with cluster munitions into Israel, marking the first use of such weapons in the current conflict. Evidence suggests the missile contained submunitions, which are controversial and banned by over 100 countries, though not by Iran or Israel. The attack caused no fatalities but resulted in unexploded bomblets scattered across the area, raising concerns about civilian safety. The incident highlights ongoing hostilities between Israel and Iran amid a broader regional conflict.
Israel Responds to Iranian Missile Attacks Amid Rising Tensions
Iran launched a missile containing cluster submunitions at Israel, marking the first use of such weapons in the current conflict, with the aim of increasing civilian casualties; Israel condemned the attack, highlighting the dangers of unexploded ordnance and the controversial nature of cluster bombs, which are not banned by Iran or Israel.
Putin Threatens Kyiv with New Hypersonic Missile 'Oreshnik'
Russian President Vladimir Putin has threatened to use the new Oreshnik hypersonic missile to target Kyiv, escalating tensions as Russia continues to attack Ukraine's energy infrastructure with cluster munitions. This comes in response to Ukraine's use of Western long-range missiles against Russian targets. The attacks have led to widespread power outages in Ukraine, with President Zelenskyy calling for more Western air defense systems to protect the country's energy facilities. Despite the damage, Ukraine's air defense claims to have intercepted 90% of incoming missiles.
Ukraine Strikes Russian Air Base in Luhansk with Cluster Munitions
Ukraine's Armed Forces launched a significant missile strike using cluster munitions on a Russian military base in Luhansk, causing extensive fires and explosions. The attack targeted buildings and an airfield used by Russian forces, with reports indicating the use of US-made ATACMS missiles. Despite Russian air defenses, many missiles hit their targets, leading to a massive blaze. There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage assessments.