‘Very difficult to stop’: BBC visits scene of Iran cluster bomb strike on Israel
Very difficult to stop: BBC explores Iran’s cluster bomb assault on Israeli target
At a late hour, an Iranian cluster bomb pierced the ceiling of a residential apartment in central Israel, detonating in the cramped living space of an elderly couple. The aftermath left a clear trail of destruction, with the bomb’s trajectory visible in the ash-covered remnants of the structure. A gaping opening in the roof marked where the missile had breached, sending fragments of concrete and metal inward. Shattered wall panels on the rear of the apartment bore the marks of the blast, which obliterated the front area and exposed the interior to the street.
Inside, a mobility aid lay overturned beneath the debris, half-buried in dust and broken furniture. Sigal Amir, a neighbor who had retreated to her shelter during the attack, described the moment the bomb struck. “We heard three loud explosions, but the fourth one felt like it hit our home,” she said. “There was a deafening roar, and I felt a sharp ache in my ear from the force.” She noted that nearby residents, just five meters away, suffered severe damage: their door was torn from its frame, and their home was blanketed in dust as if by a heavy snowfall. “They weren’t in the shelter when it hit,” Amir explained, “since one of them had difficulty moving.”
“To be honest, in the last days I’m losing hope a little bit,” said Sigal as we sheltered in the safe room. “I feel there’s no end to it, there’s no direction, we can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel. We must endure this, but I’m not sure how long it will take, [or] where we are going from here.”
Israeli military spokesman Lt Col Nadav Shoshani described the attack during a site visit. “You can see the point where the rocket entered, flying all the way from Iran in a massive missile, and shattered into dozens of pieces,” he said. “We’ve had many similar impact zones in central Israel.” He emphasized that while air defenses often intercept missiles, cluster bombs are harder to neutralize. Each missile can carry 20 to 80 warheads, which are “very difficult to stop” even if the carrier is destroyed.
Meanwhile, the broader conflict continues. The US-Israel campaign against Iran, now entering its 19th day, has targeted military installations, oil infrastructure, and other key assets. According to the US-based 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 disabled over 70% of Iran’s ballistic missile launchers, suggesting its attacks are gaining momentum. Yet the persistent threat of cluster munitions, which spread damage over wide areas, has raised concerns among the public.
Residents now face frequent alerts, prompting nightly retreats to shelters. This constant vigilance has sparked unease, with some questioning the war’s endgame. “There’s no clear direction, and we can’t see the light at the end,” Sigal reflected. “We’re just holding on, but I don’t know how much longer.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu framed the war as a decisive confrontation against regional adversaries. He highlighted his country’s military dominance, asserting that the conflict has reshaped the Middle East and solidified Israel’s status as a regional power. However, the war’s asymmetry has placed pressure on the US, as Iran leverages issues like oil prices, civilian casualties, and the safety of Gulf allies to push for an agreement.
Israel’s timeline for the conflict remains uncertain, with its efforts extending to a second front against Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed group in southern Lebanon. The Lebanese health ministry reported that 912 people have been killed and hundreds of thousands displaced by Israeli operations. This week, ground forces advanced into southern Lebanon after ordering mass evacuations. The US is reportedly considering a deal with the Lebanese government to stabilize the situation.