Middle East Conflict: Iran Uses Cluster Munitions on Israel, Parties Flout Laws of War

One month into the Middle East conflict, all parties involved are showing a blatant disregard for international law. The US and Israel initiated an assault on Iran on February 28, 2026, and since then, serious violations of the laws of war have been committed by all sides. Iran has responded with threats to strike critical infrastructure, and attacks have already impacted schools, financial institutions, and commercial shipping. The use of cluster munitions by Iran in attacks on Israel has been documented, posing a significant threat to civilians due to their indiscriminate nature and high failure rate. ## Latest Update Human Rights Watch has confirmed that Iranian forces used cluster munitions in strikes on Israel as recently as March 30, 2026. These munitions leave behind unexploded submunitions, creating a long-term hazard similar to landmines. HRW is calling for an immediate cessation of the use of these weapons and urging international monitoring of the escalating conflict. ## Timeline * **2026-02-28:** US and Israel begin assault on Iran. * **2026-03-26:** Human Rights Watch reports that all parties in the Middle East conflict are flouting laws of war, citing threats and attacks on civilian infrastructure. * **2026-03-30:** Human Rights Watch documents Iran's repeated use of cluster munitions in attacks on Israel, resulting in civilian casualties and long-term hazards. ## What to Watch * Escalation of attacks on civilian infrastructure, including power plants and IT systems. * Increased use of indiscriminate weapons, such as cluster munitions, leading to further civilian casualties and long-term hazards. * Potential for international intervention or further destabilization of the region.