‘Very difficult to stop’: BBC visits scene of Iran cluster bomb strike on Israel
Very difficult to stop
The night air was still when a cluster bomb from Iran shattered the ceiling of a residential apartment in central Israel, detonating inside a small living room and claiming the lives of an elderly couple. The remnants of the attack revealed a clear trajectory, with a gaping hole in the top floor’s ceiling and shrapnel marks across the rear walls. The explosion had torn through the front of the building, leaving it exposed to the street. A collapsed walking frame lay among the ash-covered furniture and debris, a stark reminder of the destruction.
Neighboring resident Sigal Amir described the chaos. “We heard three loud intercepts, but the fourth was unmistakable—it was our home,” she said, recounting how the blast’s thunderous impact left her with a ringing ear. “The neighbors just five meters away had their door blown off, and their house was buried under dust like a snowfall.” She noted the couple hadn’t been in the shelter, as one had mobility challenges.
“You can see the entry point of the rocket that flew all the way from Iran in a massive missile, breaking into dozens of pieces,” said Israeli military spokesperson Lt Col Nadav Shoshani during a visit. “We’ve recorded dozens of impact points like this across central Israel.”
While most Iranian missiles are intercepted by Israel’s defenses, cluster bombs pose a greater challenge. Each can carry 20 to 80 munitions, which are harder to neutralize even if the missile itself is destroyed. As the conflict has evolved, Iran has increasingly relied on these weapons.
Casualty Numbers
Despite Iran’s missile campaigns, direct casualties in Israel have remained low. So far, 14 people have been killed, with nine of them perishing in a single attack in Bet Shemesh early in the war. The joint US-Israel operation, now in its 19th day, has targeted military sites, oil facilities, and infrastructure, with the US-based Hrana reporting at least 1354 civilians and 1138 military personnel killed since the conflict began.
Israel’s military claims to have destroyed over 70% of Iran’s ballistic missile launchers, suggesting the enemy’s attacks are now less effective. Yet, the persistent alerts and growing use of cluster munitions have stirred concerns among weary citizens. “I’ve lost a bit of hope lately,” Sigal admitted as she sheltered us in her safe room. “It feels like there’s no end in sight, no clear direction—just a tunnel without light.”
Asymmetric Conflict
The war has taken on an asymmetric character, with Iran leveraging vulnerabilities in Gulf allies and pressing US sensitivities on oil prices, casualties, and regional stability to push for a ceasefire. Israel’s timeline for this conflict is expected to stretch longer than Washington’s. Meanwhile, Hezbollah—a well-armed Iranian proxy—has intensified its role on Israel’s northern border after the assassination of Iran’s former Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamanei.
Lebanon’s health ministry reported 912 deaths and hundreds of thousands displaced due to Israeli operations. This week, ground forces extended their campaign into southern Lebanon after urging mass evacuations. The US is reportedly considering a deal with the Lebanese government to ease tensions.
