'Israeli' army accuses Iran of using cluster munitions in missile attacks

The 'Israeli' military on Friday accused Iran of using missiles equipped with cluster warheads in its strikes on 'Israel', launched in response to an ongoing military campaign by 'Israel' and the United States against the Islamic Republic since Feb. 28.

The army did not specify the exact location or timing of the alleged use of the weapons. However, video footage filmed overnight Thursday in central 'Israel' showed a barrage of bright points descending toward the ground, according to images captured by AFP.

AFP said that a munitions expert who reviewed the footage, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the images appear to show the detonation of a warhead containing cluster munitions.

Read more: US & ‘Israel’ at war with Iran | Day 7 coverage

'Israeli' military spokesperson Nadav Shoshani told reporters that Iranian forces had used cluster munitions on multiple occasions. "They are using cluster munitions. They have used them simultaneously in several incidents, and directing them against civilians is a war crime. We are monitoring the situation closely," he said.

Neither Iran nor 'Israel' is a signatory to the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions, which bans the use, production, stockpiling and transfer of the weapons.

Separately, 'Israeli' police released a video message warning residents about the dangers posed by cluster bombs. An explosives disposal technician explained that while the home front faces threats from missiles, drones and shells during the war, cluster munitions represent a lesser known but highly dangerous risk.

Police said earlier this week that a missile containing cluster bombs had been fired toward 'Israel', though authorities did not disclose the exact location or time of the launch.

In a statement, police said explosives experts examined debris from a projectile reportedly launched from Iran and determined it was a military component linked to cluster munitions.

Cluster munitions release numerous small explosive submunitions over a wide area. Some of these submunitions fail to detonate upon impact, posing a long term danger to civilians.

Military censorship rules in 'Israel' restrict journalists from filming or reporting damage to military or security facilities. Coverage of damage in civilian areas is permitted, but reporters are not allowed to disclose precise locations.

During the 12 day war between Iran and 'Israel' in June, Amnesty International accused Iran of firing cluster munitions into civilian areas in 'Israel', describing the act as a "flagrant violation of international humanitarian law."