‘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 in Central Israel

Late one night, an Iranian cluster bomb pierced the ceiling of a central Israeli apartment, detonating in the couple’s living room and claiming both lives. The remnants of the strike showed the bomb’s path, with a gaping hole in the roof and shattered concrete and metal fragments scattered inside. Shrapnel left visible marks on the back walls, while the front of the apartment lay in ruins, exposing it to the street. A walking frame was found overturned beneath ash and debris. Sigal Amir, a neighbor sheltering in her safe room, described the attack. “We heard three noisy interceptions, but the fourth was our house,” she recalled. “There was a massive boom, and I felt a sharp pain in my ear from the blast.” She noted that the couple had not been in the shelter, as one had mobility challenges. The neighbor’s door was torn off, and her home was cloaked in dust, resembling a snowfall.

The Challenge of Cluster Bombs

While Iran’s missile attacks typically result in few casualties due to effective air defenses, cluster bombs present a greater threat. These weapons spread over wide areas and are harder to intercept, even when the missile is downed. Each carries 20 to 80 munitions, which Israeli forces say are “very difficult to stop.” During a visit to the site, Lt Col Nadav Shoshani explained, “You can see the entry point of the rocket that flew all the way from Iran, breaking into dozens of pieces.” He added that Israel had recorded multiple such impact zones in central regions. Another alarm then sounded, signaling incoming missiles, prompting Sigal to guide the BBC into her safe room.

Context of the War and Casualty Trends

To date, only 14 people have been killed directly by Iranian strikes, nine in a single attack in Bet Shemesh early in the conflict. The US-Israel campaign, now in its 19th day, has targeted military sites, oil infrastructure, and other key assets. According to the 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, suggesting a weakening enemy. However, the war’s toll on civilians and the growing use of cluster munitions have raised concerns. Regular alarms, forcing shelters nightly, have left some Israelis questioning the conflict’s duration and direction. Sigal admitted, “I’m losing hope a little bit. It feels like there’s no end, no light at the tunnel. We must endure, but I’m unsure how long this will last.”

Asymmetric Warfare and Regional Dynamics

The conflict is described as asymmetric, with Iran leveraging US sensitivities on oil prices, casualties, and the safety of its Gulf allies to push for an end. Israel’s timeline for the war appears longer than Washington’s, as it fights on two fronts: Iran and the Lebanese group Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed proxy. After the assassination of Iran’s former Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamanei, Hezbollah joined the campaign. Lebanon’s health ministry reported 912 deaths and hundreds of thousands displaced in Israeli operations. This week, Israeli ground forces intensified actions in southern Lebanon, ordering mass evacuations. The US is reportedly seeking a deal with Lebanon’s government to ease tensions. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu framed the war as the final phase of a regional struggle, emphasizing his country’s military dominance. “This conflict has reshaped the Middle East,” he stated, positioning Israel as a rising regional and global power.