Israeli military officials report that Iran has been using cluster munitions throughout their current 10-day conflict, adding complexity to Israel's air defense challenges. The weapons release dozens of smaller bomblets over wide areas after their parent munitions burst open at high altitudes.

According to Israeli military spokesman Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani, Iran has deployed these weapons on a "nearly daily basis" during the current conflict and previously used similar projectiles during a 12-day war in June. The Israeli military states that Iranian warheads contain between 20 and 24 bomblets with explosives weighing up to 5 kilograms each.

Cluster munitions pose particular challenges for missile defense systems. While Israel's Arrow system has intercepted incoming ballistic missiles, the smaller bomblets become difficult to target once dispersed. The Iron Dome system, designed for shorter-range rockets, is not equipped to destroy the scattered submunitions, according to defense analysts.

The weapons create risks for civilian populations both during and after conflicts, as unexploded bomblets can remain dangerous on the ground. Israeli authorities have distributed warnings to residents not to touch unexploded submunitions and to contact authorities instead. The bomblets, which can weigh less than 3 kilograms, are particularly dangerous to people caught outside shelters and can damage vehicles and storefronts.

More than 120 countries have signed the Convention on Cluster Munitions banning their use, though Israel, the United States, and Iran are not signatories. The weapons are prohibited under Geneva Conventions for use in civilian areas. Iran reportedly uses Khorramshahr medium-range ballistic missiles and shorter-range Zolfaghar missiles equipped with cluster munition warheads.

Cluster munitions have been used in various conflicts worldwide, including by Israel during its 2006 war with Hezbollah in Lebanon, where the UN estimated 30-40% of the bomblets failed to explode. Following the previous Iran-Israel conflict in July 2025, Amnesty International characterized Iran's use of such weapons as a violation of international humanitarian law.