‘Very difficult to stop’: BBC visits scene of Iran cluster bomb strike on Israel
Very difficult to stop
Iran’s cluster bomb strike leaves devastation in central Israel
As night fell in central Israel, a cluster bomb from Iran pierced the ceiling of a senior couple’s apartment, detonating in their small living room and claiming both lives. The remnants of the attack, now cloaked in ash, still reveal the bomb’s trajectory. A gaping hole in the ceiling marks where it entered, sending shards of concrete and metal inward. Shrapnel scars across the back walls indicate the blast’s intensity, which obliterated the apartment’s front section, leaving it exposed to the street.
“We heard three noisy intercepts, but the fourth was unmistakable—our home,” recalled Sigal Amir, a neighbor who took refuge in her safe room during the strike. “There was a thunderous explosion, and I felt the shockwave in my ear.” She described how the blast had removed her neighbors’ front door and left their house buried in dust, akin to a snowstorm.
The couple had not been in the shelter at the time, as one of them had mobility challenges. While Iran’s missile assaults typically result in few casualties due to Israel’s air defenses, cluster bombs pose a greater threat. These weapons scatter over a wider area, making them harder to neutralize even after the missile is downed. As the conflict continues, Iran has increasingly relied on cluster munitions.
Israeli military spokesperson Lt Col Nadav Shoshani pointed to the cratered entry point of a rocket that traveled from Iran, breaking into multiple fragments upon impact. “We’ve seen dozens of such points in central Israel,” he noted, emphasizing the difficulty of stopping the munitions. “Each missile carries 20 to 80 projectiles, and it’s very hard to intercept them all.”
Amid the ongoing war, another alert echoed, signaling an incoming missile. Sigal guided the visitors into her safe room, where the tension of constant threats was palpable. Though casualties from Iranian attacks remain low, with 14 deaths recorded so far, including nine in a single strike in Bet Shemesh early in the conflict, the impact of cluster bombs has grown more pronounced.
The joint US-Israel operation, now entering its 19th day, has targeted Iran’s military installations, oil infrastructure, and other key sites. According to the US-based Hrana, over 1354 civilians and 1138 military personnel have perished since the war began. Israel claims to have dismantled more than 70% of Iran’s ballistic missile systems, suggesting a decline in the adversary’s offensive capacity.
Yet, the relentless nature of the conflict has taken a toll. Israelis now routinely retreat to shelters, and the persistent use of cluster munitions has sparked doubts among some. “I’m losing hope a little,” Sigal admitted, as she and others huddled in safety. “It feels endless, with no clear direction. We’re just waiting to see if it will ever stop.”
Meanwhile, Israel’s actions have drawn Iran closer to the US, leveraging concerns over oil prices, civilian losses, and the safety of Gulf allies to pressure Washington into ending hostilities. The US is reportedly considering a deal with Lebanon’s government to de-escalate tensions, as Israeli forces intensify operations in the south. Lebanon’s health ministry reports 912 fatalities and hundreds of thousands displaced since the war began.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu positioned the conflict as a defining moment for Israel’s regional dominance, highlighting the nation’s military strength. However, the war’s asymmetry underscores its complexity, with Iran persistently challenging Israel’s security while the US grapples with its own strategic goals. The duration of this battle remains uncertain, with Israel’s timeline extending beyond Washington’s expectations.
