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First Post
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- Politics
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What are cluster munitions that Iran used against Israel? What makes them so dangerous?
On Thursday, Iran launched a ballistic missile at Israel carrying a warhead that dispersed roughly 20 cluster submunitions over an eight-kilometre radius in central Israel. The warhead split mid-air at an altitude of seven kilometres. While one bomblet struck a home in Azor, many failed to explode. Israel and Iran are not signatories to the 2008 ban on such weapons read more A Ukrainian military serviceman holds a defused cluster bomb from an MSLR missile that did not explode on impact, in the region of Kharkiv, Ukraine, October 21, 2022. File Image/Reuters On Thursday, Iran fired a missile at Israel that dispersed multiple small explosive devices intended to inflict greater harm on civilians, according to the Israeli military and its embassy in Washington. This marks the first known use of cluster munitions in the ongoing week-long conflict. 'Today, the Iranian Armed Forces fired a missile that contained cluster submunitions at a densely populated civilian area in Israel,' the embassy said in an email to Reuters. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'Cluster weapons are designed to disperse over a large area and maximize the chances of a harmful strike,' the email continued. 'Iran unlawfully fired deliberately at civilian population centers, and seeks to maximise the damage to civilians in them by using wide-dispersal munitions.' What are cluster munitions? Cluster munitions are explosive weapons designed to disperse smaller submunitions — often referred to as 'bomblets' — over a wide area. These submunitions, which weigh less than 20 kilogrammes each, are released mid-air from a central dispenser or container, and descend unguided toward the ground. Each submunition is intended to explode on impact, causing widespread damage to personnel, vehicles and soft targets spread across several hundred meters. They are deployed through various delivery systems, including artillery shells, missiles, rockets and air-dropped bombs. A typical artillery shell may carry dozens of submunitions, while a Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) rocket can carry hundreds. For instance, the M26A1/A2 variant of the MLRS rocket contains 518 bomblets, while the M864 variant of a 155mm artillery shell carries 76. The United States had produced all three types — air-delivered, artillery and rocket-launched — but stopped producing them in 2008 and has gradually converted its stockpiles to comply with international conventions. Nonetheless, these weapons were once the US standard during the Cold War and remained in stockpiles for decades. The most advanced US submunition, the M77, has dual-purpose capabilities — penetration for vehicle targets and fragmentation for personnel. Unlike a 'unitary' warhead, which detonates in a single powerful blast, cluster munitions are designed for wide-area impact, increasing the chance of hitting multiple targets but also dramatically increasing the risk to civilians and non-combatants. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD How did Iran deploy cluster munitions in Israel? On Thursday, Iran launched a ballistic missile at Israel equipped with a warhead containing cluster submunitions, in what the Israeli Defense Forces described as the first such usage since the beginning of the recent hostilities. The warhead reportedly split at an altitude of around 7 kilometres (4.3 miles) above ground and dispersed approximately 20 submunitions across an estimated 8-kilometre (5-mile) radius. The small bomblets do not possess any propulsion or guidance system of their own. They simply fall to the ground and are designed to detonate upon impact. However, in this case, many reportedly did not explode. One submunition did hit a home in the town of Azor, causing structural damage. The Times of Israel reported that the damage was equivalent to that of a small rocket, as each of the bomblets carried an explosive charge of approximately 2.5 kilogrammes. While no injuries were reported from the attack, the presence of unexploded ordnance raised alarms. The IDF Home Front Command said sappers located and disposed of at least 20 unexploded bomblets but warned the public not to approach missile remnants, which could act as de facto landmines. Brigadier General Effie Defrin of the Israeli military noted, 'The terror regime seeks to harm civilians and even used weapons with wide dispersal in order to maximise the scope of the damage.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Why are cluster munitions considered dangerous? Cluster munitions are highly controversial due to their indiscriminate nature and the enduring danger posed by unexploded submunitions. The explosive bomblets, when deployed over a wide area, cannot distinguish between military targets and civilians. This makes their use in populated regions particularly devastating. Humanitarian concerns primarily focus on the dud rate — the proportion of submunitions that fail to explode as intended. These unexploded devices can remain hidden for years, causing injuries or fatalities long after active hostilities have ceased. Estimates of dud rates vary widely, from as low as 2 per cent to as high as 40 per cent, with US-made munitions generally performing better and Russian versions often exhibiting higher failure rates. 'They are egregious weapons with their wide-area destruction, especially if used in a civilian populated area and could add to the unexploded ordnance left over from conflicts," said Daryl Kimball, Executive Director of the Arms Control Association. He added that Iranian missiles tend to be imprecise, making it even more likely that such munitions will hit civilians rather than military targets. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions, signed by 112 countries and 12 observer entities, explicitly prohibits the use, development, production, acquisition, stockpiling or transfer of cluster munitions. The text of the convention states that these weapons 'kill or maim civilians, including women and children, obstruct economic and social development… impede post-conflict rehabilitation and reconstruction (and) delay or prevent the return of refugees and internally displaced persons… for many years after use.' However, Iran, Israel, Russia, Ukraine and the United States have not joined the treaty. While the US halted production in 2008 and converted many stockpiles, it has maintained the right to deploy such munitions in certain conflict scenarios. In 2023, after prolonged debate, the US transferred cluster artillery shells to Ukraine for use against Russian forces, as Kyiv accused Moscow of deploying similar weapons in the ongoing conflict. Could Iran have MIRV capability? In the aftermath of the missile strike, Israeli military technicians began recovering dozens of unexploded canisters and are now investigating whether Iran's missile technology may include true MIRV (Multiple Independently Targetable Reentry Vehicle) capability. While MIRVs differ from cluster munitions, they also deploy multiple warheads from a single missile. However, each warhead in a MIRV system is capable of being directed at separate, distinct targets and is guided, unlike the bomblets in a cluster bomb which are unguided. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD While no official confirmation has been made regarding MIRV usage, the inquiry highlights increasing concern over Iran's missile technology and whether its capabilities may be more advanced or diversified than previously assessed. Also Watch: With inputs from agencies
Indian Express
07-06-2025
- Indian Express
Indian-origin man accused of masterminding illegal drug, tobacco ring in Sydney
A Sydney-based man of Indian origin has been accused of heading a sophisticated international drug and tobacco trafficking syndicate that spanned several continents and used legitimate freight channels to move illicit cargo into Australia. Gurvindar Singh, 42, is at the centre of a two-year investigation by Australia's Multi Agency Strike Team (MAST), which comprises the NSW Police, Australian Federal Police (AFP), Australian Border Force, NSW Crime Commission, AUSTRAC, the ATO and other agencies. He faces multiple charges, including five counts of importing a commercial quantity of controlled drugs and illegal tobacco, as well as offences relating to proceeds of crime and directing a criminal group. If convicted, he could face a maximum sentence of life in prison. Authorities allege that Singh masterminded the import of 50 kg of cocaine hidden in cement bags from Panama, 280 kg of liquid methamphetamine shipped from Canada, and over 20 million illicit cigarettes brought into the country from the United Arab Emirates using a freight company based in Punchbowl, a suburb in southwestern Sydney. According to news portal Australia Today, the first major breakthrough came in August 2024, when investigators intercepted a liquid meth consignment arriving from Vancouver. Surveillance teams tracked it from port storage to a covert cooling and extraction site in Riverstone, Sydney's northwest, leading to the arrest of two men. This, police say, eventually led them to identify Singh as the suspected ringleader. More evidence emerged in January 2025, when customs officials flagged irregularities in a container from the UAE. Three separate consignments of illegal cigarettes had already been imported through the Punchbowl freight firm allegedly linked to Singh's network. Police estimate that the illicit cigarette sales alone netted him at least AUD 443,000. Last month, investigators executed a series of early-morning raids involving over 150 officers across properties in Wetherill Park, Punchbowl and nearby suburbs. Singh was arrested outside a private residence near a police van, moments after stepping out of a vehicle. Two Canadian nationals of Indian origin—24-year-old Aman Kang and 31-year-old Mani Singh Dhaliwal—were also arrested. The police allege they were recruited by Singh to recover and distribute the cocaine shipment. Both men were denied bail and charged with possessing a commercial quantity of drugs and participating in a criminal group. A seventh suspect was intercepted at Sydney Airport while attempting to board an international flight, the police added. Singh allegedly relied on encrypted messaging apps, port insiders, and shell companies to facilitate his operations. In one intercepted conversation, cited both by ABC News and Australia Today, Singh was allegedly heard exclaiming 'It's fake' when he realised the police had swapped out the 50 kg of cocaine with an inert substance prior to a handover. At a press conference following the arrests, AFP Detective Superintendent Peter Fogarty said the syndicate exploited access to legitimate logistics and transport firms to subvert border controls. 'This was not a small-scale operation,' Fogarty said. 'This was an enterprise worth tens of millions of dollars, spanning multiple continents.' Apart from the large quantities of contraband recovered, vehicles, digital devices, cash, and financial records believed to be linked to money laundering were seized. Financial crime investigators are now probing the movement of funds through what they describe as a web of shell companies. At Parramatta Bail Court on Sunday, Singh's lawyer, Ahmed Dib, requested bail, citing the accused's poor health, family responsibilities, and his willingness to offer his home as surety. However, Magistrate Josephine Carling denied the request, stating that the serious nature of the charges and Singh's international links posed a significant flight risk. 'Given the volume of illegal tobacco and narcotics purportedly imported, the risk to community safety is substantial,' she observed. Singh and his co-accused are scheduled to appear at the Downing Centre Local Court on July 31, where they are expected to be formally arraigned. The case has triggered renewed political debate in Australia around tobacco excise policy. As Australia Today reported, NSW Premier Chris Minns cited the operation as evidence that the country's high tobacco taxes are fuelling a booming black market, calling on the federal government to re-evaluate the excise regime. 'Our legitimate tobacconists cannot compete with criminals selling cigarettes for a fraction of the cost,' he said. Opposition Leader Mark Speakman, however, argued that the solution lies in better enforcement, not lowering taxes. Investigators have warned that additional arrests may follow as they analyse financial trails and digital evidence recovered during the raids. They say the crackdown has dealt a serious blow to transnational criminal networks operating in Australia and are hopeful it will lead to more robust anti-smuggling enforcement measures.
Time of India
24-05-2025
- Time of India
Hyderabad barista & daily wager used as frontmen in Rs 3,200 crore Andhra Pradesh liquor scam
VIJAYAWADA: A former coffee shop worker in Hyderabad and a daily wager in Guntur were allegedly used as frontmen by the powerful liquor mafia with political backing during the previous YSRCP govt in Andhra Pradesh. According to sources in the special investigation team (SIT), which is probing the alleged Rs 3,200 liquor scam in AP, the two individuals were made the faces of the scam, though the real perpetrators worked behind the scenes. The story of Purushottam Varun Kumar, who once brewed cappuccinos at a Hyderabad cafe, sounds like a plot of a high-octane political thriller - a modest engineering graduate struggling to make ends meet finds himself catapulted into the big league of the liquor trade, amassing wealth worth hundreds of crores in just five years, only to vanish without a trace. According to police sources, Varun, who completed his engineering degree in 2016, was unable to find a job in his field, and started working at a coffee shop in Banjara Hills, Hyderabad. It was there, sources said, that he met one Ramesh Reddy - a Telugu NRI settled in the United States, who was visiting India ahead of the 2019 general elections. Varun reportedly shared his aspirations to secure a lucrative job abroad. A few months later, he received a call from Ramesh, who was asking to meet him in Delhi. What followed 'changed' his life, and allegedly, turned him into a pawn in a multi-crore liquor network. Varun, who had a clean slate with no criminal record or political affiliations, was appointed as the operations in-charge of a distillery unit, first in Puducherry, and later across Andhra Pradesh. Within months, the distillery started aggressively pushing low-quality liquor brands. Despite their subpar quality, these brands dominated AP market, as they were backed by a tightly controlled distribution network. Investigators said Varun became the de facto face of the entire operations of the distillery. With an office in Ajit Singh Nagar of Vijayawada, he handled production to retail operations and, eventually, the financial flows. The SIT investigating the scam has unearthed a trail of shell companies used to siphon off hundreds of crores of rupees. According to preliminary findings, while Varun's name was used for several transactions, a significant portion of the money was routed to liquor mafia operatives. After the change of regime in 2024, the NDA govt in the state announced a full-fledged probe into the liquor scam. Soon after, Varun disappeared. Initial leads suggested he may have fled to the US. However, fresh inputs indicate he may be in Dubai. Investigators are using cyber forensics and scanning immigration data but have so far been unable to confirm his exact whereabouts. The SIT is also probing a parallel case involving a youngster from Guntur whose name was allegedly misused by the liquor mafia. Officials said a beer company dealership in AP was registered in his name without his knowledge. Hundreds of crores worth of beer were sold under his identity, and profits were laundered abroad. The youngster, now aware of the scale of the fraud, is reportedly in distress and seeking legal help. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Brother's Day wishes , messages and quotes !
Time of India
21-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
India Domestic Airlines: India's airlines record 8.5 pc rise in domestic flyers in April, ET TravelWorld
Advt Boeing deliveries nearly double in April Boeing reports a surge in aircraft deliveries for April, nearly doubling last year's numbers. Deliveries to China halted due to trade tensions, impacting Boeing's plans. The company focuses on stabilizing 737 MAX production after quality issues. Boeing secured new orders, mainly for 737 MAX planes. Boeing trails Airbus in deliveries and new orders. See More Details Advt Join the community of 2M+ industry professionals Subscribe to our newsletter to get latest insights & analysis. Download ETTravelWorld App Get Realtime updates Save your favourite articles Scan to download App The number of passengers flown by India's domestic airlines during April this year crossed the 1.43 crore mark, which represents an 8.45 per cent increase compared to the same month of the previous year, despite bad weather impacting operations during the month, figures released by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation on Wednesday carried by domestic airlines during January-April this year went up to 575.13 lakh, which represents a 9.87 per cent increase over the corresponding figure of 523.46 lakh during the same period of the previous weather was a significant factor in flight disruptions during April, accounting for 38.8 per cent of all cancellations in air tickets by passengers. This directly impacted 20,840 passengers, as a result of which airlines had to shell out Rs 41.69 lakh in compensation and facilities, marking a 117 per cent increase cancellations, delays also affected a large number of travellers, with 96,350 people experiencing delays in April, a 68 per cent jump compared to March. As many as 70 per cent of these passengers were hit by "reactionary" delays, primarily due to the late arrival of planes from earlier country's leading domestic airline IndiGo, increased its passenger market share to 64.1 per cent in April from 64 per cent in March. The airline also registered an improvement in its passenger load factor to 86.9 per cent from 84.6 per cent, according to the DGCA Air India Group also gained market share, rising to 27.2 per cent from 26.7 per cent during the month. The airline's passenger load factor rose to 83.3 per cent from 80.6 per cent. Akasa Air's market share remained unchanged at 5 per cent. Debt-ridden SpiceJet recorded a decline in market share from 2.6 per cent from 3.3 per cent but there, the airline recorded an improvement in its load factor to 86 per cent from 84.8 per Air registered the highest passenger load factor, with an increase to 93 per cent during April from 92.5 per cent in load factor of an airline refers to the percentage of available seats on a flight that are filled with paying passengers. It's a key metric reflecting an airline's efficiency in utilising its capacity and is an indicator of its April 2025, a total of 910 passenger-related complaints had been received by the scheduled domestic airlines. The number of complaints per 10,000 passengers carried for the month of April 2025 has been around 0.64.
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First Post
10-05-2025
- Politics
- First Post
Srinagar rocked by loud explosions as missile-like object lands in Dal Lake
Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said that Pakistan's actions over the last few days are being seen as 'provocative and escalatory' read more Trails from an Indian air defence system are seen above Jammu during a Pakistani strike on May 9, 2025 (Source: AFP) and the shell recovered from the Dal Lake A missile-like object landed deep inside the Dal Lake – a major tourist attraction in Srinagar – after loud explosions rocked the city on Saturday (May 10) morning, officials said. Smoke bellowed from the surface of the lake when the object landed, the officials said. The debris of the object, which the security forces have fished out, is being analysed, they added, according to news agency PTI. Here is the image of the shell recovered from the lake: STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Another suspected object was recovered from Lasjan on the outskirts of the city on Saturday morning, which is being examined, the officials said. Earlier, while addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said that Pakistan's actions over the last few days are being seen as 'provocative and escalatory'. Col Sofiya Qureshi on Saturday said that Pakistan tried to attack an air base in Punjab. She said in response, India also launched several strikes targeting airbases across Pakistan. Pakistan targeted a total of 26 locations in India in Saturday attacks, the government said. India accused Pakistani forces of targeting civilian areas and medical, educational facilities in Kashmir. It was also informed that Pakistan was increasing its deployment of troops on the border, signalling an intention to escalate the conflict. Tensions between Pakistan and India are running high after New Delhi carried out precision strikes, under Operation Sindoor, against terror camps across the border in response to the April 22 terror attack in Kashmir. (With inputs from PTI)
