Iranian Cluster Missile Kills Elderly Couple in Ramat Gan Amid Israel Strikes
An elderly couple in Ramat Gan, identified as Yaron and Ilana Moshe, both in their 70s, were killed early Wednesday morning by a cluster missile as Iran continued to launch attacks on Israel overnight and into the morning of March 18, 2026.
From midnight to 8 a.m., four rounds of missile fire caused injuries and property damage across Israel, according to reports. Iranian officials confirmed the use of cluster warheads in the attacks, designed to maximize damage and overwhelm Israeli air defenses.
Authorities reported that falling munitions impacted multiple sites in central Israel, beginning shortly after midnight. Police spokesman Dean Elsdunne stated that a residential building in Ramat Gan was struck by a cluster munition. The Times of Israel reported that the couple were on their way to their reinforced shelter when the missile struck.
Magen David Adom emergency medical services pronounced Yaron and Ilana Moshe dead at the scene. Police indicated the couple did not reach their safe room before the impact, and were only meters away. A neighbor reported seeing the couple’s walker near the site of the strike.
Cluster Munitions and Civilian Impact
The use of cluster munitions raises serious concerns about civilian casualties. These weapons disperse smaller submunitions over a wide area, increasing the risk of indiscriminate harm. i24NEWS reported that the missile tore a hole through the apartment ceiling and destroyed the living room, whereas the bomb shelter remained intact.
Chen Amir, a neighbor, described the scene after the sirens sounded. He and his wife entered their safe room and then discovered significant damage to the Moshes’ apartment, including a destroyed door and a large hole in the ceiling. He expressed relief that the couple’s grandchildren were not present at the time of the attack.
Broader Impact of the Iranian Attacks
Paramedics treated two other people who sustained minor injuries from shrapnel, while others were treated for anxiety. The Home Front Command deployed search and rescue teams to multiple impact sites in central Israel. Images showed damage to cars, buildings, and infrastructure.
The national railway company temporarily suspended train services due to shrapnel damage at Tel Aviv’s Savidor station. Services resumed later in the morning. Firefighters extinguished blazes in Petah Tikvah and Kafr Qasim.
Iran’s Justification for the Attacks
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed responsibility for the attacks, stating they were in retaliation for Israel’s killing of a top security official. The IRGC specified the use of Khorramshahr-4 and Qadr missiles in the attacks on the Tel Aviv area.
Footage showed the release of cluster munitions from at least one missile over Israel, with one submunition causing damage to a road.
Casualty Figures and Ongoing Conflict
As of Wednesday morning, the Health Ministry reported 192 injuries in the past 24 hours related to the conflict with Iran. Four people were in moderate condition, and 177 were in good condition. One person was treated for anxiety. Since the start of the conflict on February 28, 3,727 people have been admitted to hospitals, with 74 currently hospitalized.
The conflict began with joint Israeli-US strikes on Iran, prompting retaliatory drone and missile attacks by Iran and its proxies, including Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Funeral Arrangements
Yaron and Ilana Moshe, the couple killed in Ramat Gan, will be laid to rest on Wednesday afternoon at the Yarkon Cemetery, according to Israel National News.