Airwars, a London‑based nonprofit that tracks civilian casualties from U.S. weapons, says three Precision Strike Missiles (PrSM) were used on Feb. 28 in the southern Iranian city of Lamerd. The missiles detonated above a sports complex and two residential neighborhoods, killing at least 21 civilians – seven of them children – and scattering dense tungsten pellets over a wide area.
What the investigation found
According to Airwars, the blasts killed civilians as far as 164 feet from the detonation points and caused damage more than three times that distance. The organization mapped the damage radius using publicly available photos, videos, satellite imagery and geolocation software. The Associated Press verified the findings by measuring distances between reported civilian deaths and the missile mid‑air explosions.
The PrSM is marketed by Lockheed Martin as a next‑generation, long‑range ballistic missile that explodes mid‑air and releases tens of thousands of metal pellets in all directions. While the weapon is intended to replace the older Army Tactical Missile System, its pellet‑spray effect appears to create a much broader lethal zone than traditional warheads.
U.S. response and denial
The U.S. military confirmed that PrSMs were fired during the early days of the Iran conflict but denied that any were launched into Lamerd. A spokesperson for U.S. Central Command said the footage of one strike suggested an Iranian Hoveyzeh cruise missile, not a U.S. weapon. The Pentagon has not provided details on the intended target in Lamerd, though an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps compound lies nearby and showed no damage in satellite images.
Expert opinions
Six weapons experts, including two former military officials, told the AP that the evidence points to U.S. PrSM use and that it is unlikely Israeli or Iranian weapons were involved. Michael Meier, a former U.S. Army adviser on the laws of war, warned, “You would be hard‑pressed to find a reason to use the PrSM in a densely populated area.” Former Pentagon adviser Wes Bryant said the missile’s proper use should be limited to large concentrations of enemy personnel with hard and soft armor.
Trevor Ball, a former explosives expert for the U.S. Army, added that the weapon “will kill people outside their homes who aren’t protected by walls,” underscoring the need for caution when deploying it near civilians.
U.S. procurement continues
Despite the concerns, the Pentagon has moved forward with a contract worth over $4 billion to quadruple PrSM production. The United Kingdom has set aside $177 million for the system, and Australia purchased the missiles in 2025, investing billions of dollars into the program.
Implications for future conflicts
The Lamerd incident highlights the challenges of integrating new, highly lethal weapons into combat operations while adhering to the laws of armed conflict. As the Trump administration continues to modernize the U.S. arsenal, experts urge policymakers to weigh the strategic advantages of the PrSM against the potential for unintended civilian harm, especially when operating near densely populated areas.
For communities worldwide, the report serves as a reminder that advanced weaponry must be employed responsibly, with rigorous safeguards to protect innocent lives and uphold the principles of just war.
Original reporting: 40/29 / KHBS (NW Arkansas) — read the source article.
