Amnesty International on Thursday condemned Iran’s use of cluster munitions in populated living areas during June attacks on Israel, declaring the actions a blatant violation of international humanitarian law. The organization argued that the deployment of these weapons clearly breached established legal protections for civilians during armed conflicts.

Erika Guevara Rosas, Amnesty International’s senior director for research and advocacy, emphasized that using such weapons in or near populated areas shows a “clear disregard for international humanitarian law.” The organization also urged both Iran and Israel to join the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions.

The group’s statement detailed several verified incidents involving the use of cluster munitions in Israel during the “12 Day War,” a brief yet intense armed conflict that took place between June 13 and June 24. The war began with Israeli airstrikes targeting Iranian nuclear and military sites, followed by Iranian missile and drone retaliations against Israeli cities, resulting in numerous casualties and destruction of infrastructure for both sides. It eventually ended when the US brokered a ceasefire on June 24.

Between June 19 and June 22, ballistic missile strikes carrying cluster submunitions hit densely populated areas, including the Gush Dan and Rishon LeZion areas near Tel Aviv, and Beersheba in southern Israel. While these attacks caused moderate damage to infrastructure, no immediate deaths or injuries from the strikes were reported. However, the presence of unexploded submunitions left behind poses a serious and ongoing risk of injury or death to civilians.

Cluster munitions are weapons designed to disperse multiple smaller explosive submunitions, often called bomblets, over a wide area. Such munitions may be delivered by aircraft, artillery, missiles, or, upon deployment, by releasing these submunitions in the air. A primary concern with cluster munitions is the uncontrolled falling of submunitions, as it can harm a great number of people, especially when dispersed in populated areas.

The use, development, production, stockpile, and transfer of cluster munitions are specifically prohibited by the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions. While it is ratified by over 100 countries, neither Iran nor Israel is a party to the treaty.

Additionally, Article 51(4) of an Additional Protocol I (1977) to the Geneva Conventions prohibits indiscriminate attacks, or attacks not directed at a specific military objective, and utilizing “method or means of combat which cannot be directed at a specific military objective” and are therefore capable of striking military objectives and civilian persons indiscriminately.