US Precision Strike Missile Linked to Civilian Deaths in Iran, Experts Say
Airwars review suggests the US Precision Strike Missile killed civilians in Lamerd, Iran, highlighting risks of its wide-area effect.
A new analysis suggests that the first combat use of a cutting-edge American ballistic missile may have caused significant civilian casualties in an Iranian city. The London-based conflict monitor Airwars has examined the aftermath of strikes on Lamerd, a city in southern Iran, concluding that the weapon involved was likely the Precision Strike Missile (PrSM).
The PrSM, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, is designed to be more lethal and travel farther than its predecessors. However, its unique method of operation appears to pose a particular risk in populated areas. According to the review, the missile is designed to detonate in mid-air, dispersing tens of thousands of dense metal pellets in a 360-degree pattern rather than creating a single ground crater.
Airwars' investigation, which involved analyzing photos, videos, and satellite imagery, found that the blasts in Lamerd killed civilians as far as 50 meters from the point of detonation. The damage extended more than three times that distance. The missiles struck above a sports complex and two residential neighborhoods on the first day of the conflict in February.
Iranian officials have reported that at least 21 civilians, including seven children, were killed in the strikes. While the US military has confirmed firing the PrSM into Iran, it has denied attacking Lamerd specifically. The intended target of the strikes remains unclear, as satellite imagery showed no damage to a nearby Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps compound.
Weapons experts, including former military officials, have assessed with moderate to high confidence that the PrSM was used in Lamerd. Their assessment is based on the shape and size of the munition, the characteristics of the blast, and the pattern of perforations on buildings, which are consistent with preformed fragmentation. The review highlights the potential peril of deploying such a weapon near population centers, as its wide-area effect can have devastating consequences for civilians.