Some of the ballistic missile ordnance launched from Iran at Israel does not carry a warhead with a high-explosive payload. Instead, it contains numerous small bombs, often referred to as “cluster munitions” or “bomblets.” These bombs disperse in the air and fall over a wide area, creating a double danger to buildings, infrastructure, and civilians when they strike.
Generally, the ballistic missiles launched at Israel carry warheads containing hundreds of kilograms of explosives. When such a missile strikes its target, it causes damage to both the target itself and to the surrounding area as a result of the explosion, the accompanying blast waves, and the kinetic impact on the target. The purpose of ballistic missiles carrying large quantities of cluster munitions, which Iran launched during Operation Rising Lion in June 2025 and in the current war, is to cause widespread environmental damage over a large area, strike numerous targets, and cause indiscriminate casualties.
The ballistic missile carrying the warhead, which contains the cluster munitions, is most likely the Khorramshahr or Emad missile, although there is no publicly available information on the matter. It is launched toward its target, and when it is at an altitude of 7–10 km above the target, its warhead opens and the ordnance—small bombs each containing 2.5–5 kg of explosives—scatters and falls over a large area. The explosion occurs when the arming mechanism is triggered and the explosive material is activated upon impact with the target or the ground.
The casing of the bombs is made of special materials to prevent thermal or mechanical damage during passage through the atmosphere on the way to the target. The dispersal of the bombs is not symmetrical, but it can be estimated that the average impact radius is between several hundred meters and up to a range of 10 km. The extent of dispersal depends primarily on wind and turbulence in the atmosphere, the altitude at which the ordnance is released, and the speed of the missile carrying the munitions.
A certain percentage of these bombs do not explode upon reaching the target but instead remain as unexploded ordnance—a kind of mine that may be triggered and explode upon human contact, causing severe injuries and even death. For this reason, the use of cluster munitions was prohibited under the Dublin Convention, which entered into force in 2010.
What can be done? On a personal level, it’s essential to follow the protective instructions issued by the Home Front Command and the police. On the security level, interception systems should be upgraded in order to strike and intercept the missile carrying the cluster munitions far from the territory of the State of Israel.
Some of the ballistic missile ordnance launched from Iran at Israel does not carry a warhead with a high-explosive payload. Instead, it contains numerous small bombs, often referred to as “cluster munitions” or “bomblets.” These bombs disperse in the air and fall over a wide area, creating a double danger to buildings, infrastructure, and civilians when they strike.
Generally, the ballistic missiles launched at Israel carry warheads containing hundreds of kilograms of explosives. When such a missile strikes its target, it causes damage to both the target itself and to the surrounding area as a result of the explosion, the accompanying blast waves, and the kinetic impact on the target. The purpose of ballistic missiles carrying large quantities of cluster munitions, which Iran launched during Operation Rising Lion in June 2025 and in the current war, is to cause widespread environmental damage over a large area, strike numerous targets, and cause indiscriminate casualties.
The ballistic missile carrying the warhead, which contains the cluster munitions, is most likely the Khorramshahr or Emad missile, although there is no publicly available information on the matter. It is launched toward its target, and when it is at an altitude of 7–10 km above the target, its warhead opens and the ordnance—small bombs each containing 2.5–5 kg of explosives—scatters and falls over a large area. The explosion occurs when the arming mechanism is triggered and the explosive material is activated upon impact with the target or the ground.
The casing of the bombs is made of special materials to prevent thermal or mechanical damage during passage through the atmosphere on the way to the target. The dispersal of the bombs is not symmetrical, but it can be estimated that the average impact radius is between several hundred meters and up to a range of 10 km. The extent of dispersal depends primarily on wind and turbulence in the atmosphere, the altitude at which the ordnance is released, and the speed of the missile carrying the munitions.
A certain percentage of these bombs do not explode upon reaching the target but instead remain as unexploded ordnance—a kind of mine that may be triggered and explode upon human contact, causing severe injuries and even death. For this reason, the use of cluster munitions was prohibited under the Dublin Convention, which entered into force in 2010.
What can be done? On a personal level, it’s essential to follow the protective instructions issued by the Home Front Command and the police. On the security level, interception systems should be upgraded in order to strike and intercept the missile carrying the cluster munitions far from the territory of the State of Israel.