Amnesty International Accuses Iran of Using Cluster Munitions Against Israel 

Amnesty International accused Iran of firing ballistic missiles equipped with cluster munition warheads into populated areas of Israel during the 12-day war in June, labeling the attacks a “flagrant violation of international humanitarian law” in a report released yesterday. The allegations, which focus on strikes in central and southern Israel, have intensified scrutiny of Iran’s actions amid ongoing tensions with Israel following the brief but destructive war.

The report details three specific incidents between June 19 and June 22, 2025, when Iranian ballistic missiles allegedly dispersed cluster submunitions over civilian neighborhoods. On June 19, a missile struck the Gush Dan region near Tel Aviv, scattering approximately 20 submunitions across an eight-kilometer radius. One submunition hit the top floor of a home in Azor, causing property damage but no injuries, as a father and son reached a safe room after hearing air raid sirens. On June 20, submunitions struck a school and a basketball court in Beersheba, leaving impact craters but no reported casualties. On June 22, a residential street in Rishon LeZion was hit, with craters matching those from earlier strikes, again without reported deaths or injuries.

Amnesty’s investigation relied on photographic and video evidence from the attack sites, corroborated by media reports and statements from the Israeli military’s Home Front Command. The organization’s weapons experts identified an unexploded submunition in Gush Dan, noting its similarity to a fin-stabilized submunition from a failed Iranian missile test in Gorgan, Iran, on September 18, 2023. Amnesty contacted Iranian authorities on July 15, 2025, for comment but received no response by the report’s publication.

“Cluster munitions are inherently indiscriminate weapons that must never be used,” said Erika Guevara Rosas, Amnesty’s Senior Director for Research, Advocacy, Policy, and Campaigns. “By using such weapons in or near populated residential areas, Iranian forces endangered civilian lives and demonstrated clear disregard for international humanitarian law.” The report asserts that launching indiscriminate attacks that kill or injure civilians constitutes a war crime.

Cluster munitions, which disperse multiple smaller explosive submunitions over a wide area, are banned under the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions, ratified by over 100 countries. Neither Iran nor Israel is a signatory to the treaty. The submunitions in the June strikes, released at high altitudes of about 23,000 feet, scattered across large areas, increasing risks to civilians due to their inaccuracy and high “dud” rates, which leave unexploded bomblets that can remain dangerous for years.

The 12-day conflict, dubbed the “12-Day War” (June 13–24, 2025), began with Israeli airstrikes targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities, military leadership, and ballistic missile program, which Israel claimed was necessary to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Iran, denying nuclear ambitions, retaliated with over 400 missiles, most intercepted by Israel’s air defenses, including Arrow, David’s Sling, and Iron Dome. About 40 missiles penetrated, damaging 2,305 homes, two universities, and a hospital, displacing over 13,000 Israelis, and killing at least 24 people, according to Israeli authorities. Iran reported 1,062 deaths, including 786 military personnel, 102 women, and 38 children.

The Israeli military first reported cluster munition use on June 19, with Brigadier General Effie Defrin condemning Iran’s “wide-dispersal munitions” aimed at civilian harm. Israel issued public warnings about unexploded ordnance. Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Sharren Haskel accused Iran of deliberately targeting civilians, citing strikes on a Beersheba hospital and residential areas.

Iran’s UN mission did not respond to inquiries from Amnesty or Reuters. Iranian state media claimed their strikes targeted Israeli military and intelligence sites, denying civilian targeting.