Controversial Weapons: Iran's Missile Strike on Israel

In a significant escalation, Iran launched a missile at Israel on Thursday, which the Israeli military and its Washington embassy claim used cluster munitions to increase civilian casualties. This marks the first use of such weapons in the ongoing conflict, now in its seventh day.

The Israeli military described the missile's warhead as splitting mid-air, releasing around 20 submunitions over central Israel. One such munition hit a home in Azor, causing minimal damage without casualties. The use of cluster bombs, known for their wide dispersal and enduring threat due to unexploded ordinance, has sparked concern.

Both Iran and Israel have not joined the 111 countries that signed a 2008 international ban on cluster bombs. This incident underscores the continuing global debate over these controversial weapons, especially amidst Iran's known imprecision with missile targeting and the ongoing conflict involving similar munitions in Ukraine.

(With inputs from agencies.)