Conflict Intensifies: Iran Fires Cluster Bomb Missile As War Enters Second Week

Representative image. (Photo: ANI)

Iran fired cluster bomb bearing missiles at Israel, NDTV quoted. Notably, this is the first report of the use of cluster munitions in the conflict between the two countries.

The Israeli military on Thursday reported that the missile's warhead opened at an altitude of approximately 4 miles (7 km) and dispersed roughly 20 submunitions within a radius of about 5 miles (8 km) across central Israel. There were no reports of casualties from the bomb.

Earlier on the same day, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel will exact full price from Tehran, after Iran’s missile hit Soroka Hospital in Beersheba. 

"This morning, Iran's terrorist tyrants launched missiles at Soroka Hospital in Beersheba and at civilian population in the center of the country. We will exact the full price from the tyrants in Tehran,"  Netanyahu said on X.

Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has called Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei the “modern Hitler,” adding that he cannot be allowed to continue to exist. 

"The dictator Khamenei is the modern Hitler who has vowed to destroy the State of Israel and enslaves all his country's resources to advance this terrible goal. He cannot be allowed to continue to exist," Katz said on X.

In a related development, US President Donald Trump said that he will decide within the next two weeks whether the United States will get involved in the Israel-Iran conflict or not. 

"Based on the fact that there's a substantial chance of negotiations that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future, I will make my decision whether or not to go within the next two weeks," Leavitt quoted the President as saying.

Reportedly, Trump has opened a two-week window for diplomacy with Iran before deciding on military action. Trump and his advisors are believe that Iran, facing pressure from Israeli attacks, may drop its uranium enrichment, a request they had denied earlier. 

The conflict between Israel and Iran has entered its eighth day. The conflict began when Israel launched 'Operation Rising Lion' on June 13, targeting Iran's nuclear and military installations. In retaliation, Iran also carried out several drone and missile attacks.