Nine Wounded in Bnei Brak as Iranian Ballistic Missile Deploys Cluster Munitions Over Central Israel

Nine people were injured in Bnei Brak by an Iranian cluster bomb as President Trump claims secret peace talks with Tehran are making significant progress.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 24, 2026, 6:01 PM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Times of Israel

The Impact of Cluster Munitions on Bnei Brak

A significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran manifested on Tuesday when a ballistic missile equipped with a cluster bomb warhead targeted the central city of Bnei Brak. Magen David Adom first responders reported that the missile’s submunitions scattered across several residential neighborhoods, wounding nine individuals. Among the casualties, a 23-year-old man is listed in moderate condition after being struck by shrapnel, while eight others, including six children and an infant, sustained lighter injuries from blast effects and shattered glass. This development marks a shift in Iranian tactics, utilizing indiscriminate cluster munitions to maximize damage in densely populated civilian corridors.

Geopolitical Signals Amid the Missile Barrage

While the physical conflict continues to intensify, President Donald Trump suggested a parallel diplomatic track is currently in motion. Speaking during a swearing-in ceremony at the White House, the President asserted that the United States is in contact with the right interlocutors in Iran and claimed that Tehran is eager to reach a settlement. Trump described the recent turnover in Iranian leadership following months of conflict as a regime change, suggesting that the current figures in power are more inclined to negotiate a cessation of hostilities. These comments were met with skepticism by some Israeli officials, who noted that Iran continues to publicly deny the existence of direct or indirect talks.

Islamabad Emerges as a Potential Peace Hub

The diplomatic landscape gained further complexity as Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif formally offered Islamabad as a venue for conclusive peace negotiations. In a public statement, Sharif emphasized Pakistan's unique position as a relatively neutral player with long-standing ties to both Washington and Tehran. The Prime Minister indicated that his government stands ready to facilitate a comprehensive settlement, provided both the United States and Iran concur on the venue. Reports suggest that a high-level U.S. delegation may arrive in Pakistan within days, though internal instability within the Iranian government remains a significant hurdle to formalizing a summit.