The Israeli military on Friday accused Iran of deploying missiles equipped with cluster warheads during recent strikes on Israel, escalating tensions in the ongoing conflict between the two nations.
According to the Israeli army, the alleged use of the controversial weapons occurred during a series of missile attacks launched by Iran in response to the military campaign being carried out by Israel and the United States against the Islamic Republic since February 28.
Military officials, however, did not disclose the exact location or timing of the alleged cluster munition strike.
The accusation comes amid heightened hostilities in the region, with both sides exchanging attacks in recent days.
Video footage filmed overnight on Thursday in central Israel showed what appeared to be numerous bright points descending toward the ground in a wide pattern, suggesting the possible dispersal of submunitions. The images were captured and reviewed by journalists from AFP.
According to the news agency, a munitions expert who analyzed the footage said the visuals were consistent with the detonation of a missile warhead containing cluster munitions.
The expert, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, noted that the descending lights seen in the footage resembled the characteristic spread pattern typically associated with cluster warheads.
Cluster munitions are weapons designed to release multiple smaller bomblets over a broad area, increasing the potential for widespread damage.
Their use has long been controversial because unexploded bomblets can remain on the ground and pose a danger to civilians long after conflicts end.
More than 100 countries have signed an international convention banning the use, transfer, and stockpiling of cluster munitions. However, some major military powers have not joined the treaty.
Although, Iran and Israel did not sign or accede to the Convention on Cluster Munitions.
Iran has not immediately responded to the Israeli military’s allegations regarding the use of the weapons in the recent attacks.
The latest accusation adds another layer of complexity to the already volatile confrontation between Iran and Israel, which intensified following the launch of joint military operations by Israel and the United States against Iranian targets.
Regional and international observers have warned that continued escalation could further destabilize the Middle East, raising fears of a wider conflict involving multiple actors.
Royal News English
