‘Very difficult to stop’: BBC visits scene of Iran cluster bomb strike on Israel

Very difficult to stop: BBC visits scene of Iran cluster bomb strike on Israel

A residential attack leaves two elderly dead

Late one night, an Iranian cluster bomb breached the ceiling of a home in central Israel, detonating in a small living room and claiming the lives of an elderly couple. The remnants of the explosion, still visible in ash-covered debris, revealed the path of the missile. A gaping hole in the top-floor apartment’s ceiling showed where the bomb had pierced through, sending broken concrete and metal rods crashing inward. Shrapnel scars across the rear walls highlighted the blast’s intensity, which obliterated the front of the unit and left it exposed to the street.

Inside, a mobility aid lay overturned beneath the dust-laden furniture and rubble. Sigal Amir, a neighbor who was in her safe room during the strike, described the event. “We heard three loud explosions, but on the fourth, we knew it was our house,” she said. “There was a thunderous boom, and I felt a sharp pain in my ear from the blast.” She noted that the couple had not been in the shelter at the time, as one of them had difficulty moving.

Cluster bombs challenge air defenses

Although Iran’s missile attacks have rarely caused direct fatalities in Israel, cluster bombs complicate matters. These weapons scatter over a wide area and are harder to intercept, even when the missile carrying them is downed. Each such bomb carries 20 to 80 munitions, making them “very difficult to stop,” according to Israeli military spokesman Lt Col Nadav Shoshani. He explained, “You can see the entry point of the rocket that came all the way from Iran, a massive missile, and broke into dozens of pieces.”

Shoshani added that multiple such impact zones have been reported in central Israel. During our visit, another siren wailed, signaling incoming missiles. Sigal Amir led us into her safe room, where the atmosphere was tense.

Broader context of the conflict

The joint US-Israel campaign against Iran, now entering its 19th day, has targeted military installations, oil facilities, and infrastructure. According to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (Hrana), at least 1354 civilians and 1138 military personnel have been killed since the war began. Israel claims to have destroyed over 70% of Iran’s ballistic missile launchers, asserting that attacks on the country are now less frequent.

Despite these gains, the war has worn down Israel’s population. Regular alarms force citizens into shelters throughout the day and night, while the increased use of cluster munitions has raised concerns. “I’m losing hope a little bit,” Sigal Amir admitted. “It feels like there’s no end in sight, no direction. We can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has framed the conflict as the final phase of a long struggle against regional adversaries. He emphasizes Israel’s military dominance, stating that the war has already reshaped the Middle East and solidified the nation’s status as a regional power. However, the conflict remains asymmetric, with Iran leveraging pressure on the US through oil prices, casualties, and the safety of its Gulf allies to push for a ceasefire.

Meanwhile, Israel’s second front against Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed group in Lebanon, continues. Lebanese health officials report that over 900 people have died and hundreds of thousands displaced in Israeli operations. Recent efforts by Israeli ground forces have expanded into southern Lebanon, following orders to evacuate large areas. The US is now reportedly considering a deal with the Lebanese government to stabilize the situation.