Key facts
- The US tested new Lockheed Martin Precision Strike Missiles (PrSM) on Lamerd, Iran.
- The attack killed 21 civilians, including six children, and wounded over 150.
- Witnesses and MEE observations found no military targets at the struck sites.
- Centcom initially denied involvement but later praised the missile's combat deployment.
- The PrSM missiles are designed to inflict severe injuries with tungsten pellets.
The United States conducted a field test of its new Lockheed Martin Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) system on the town of Lamerd in Iran's southern Fars province, resulting in civilian casualties. The attack, which occurred on February 28, struck a residential area, neighborhood shops, a school, and a sports ground, killing 21 people, including six children, and wounding over 150. This incident followed closely on the heels of strikes on a school in Minab, over 400km away, which killed 120 children and 24 staff.
Witnesses described the chaos and terror as missiles hit. Rounia, a 12-year-old volleyball player, recounted hearing the first impact and being plunged into darkness by smoke and heat as doors slammed shut. Her coach, Rahimeh Shehabi, spoke of hearing children's screams. A football game was underway outside, where 11-year-old Mahdiar and his friends were playing when shrapnel hit. Ilya Khatami, 12, and his coach, Mahmoud Najafi, were killed while attempting to help open doors for girls trapped inside the sports hall when a fourth missile struck.
Dr. Moussa Mousavi, a local parliamentarian and surgeon, described the attack as a deliberate crime against children, noting the unique and devastating nature of the weapon's shrapnel, which he compared to 'butterfly bullets' used by the Israeli army. The injuries sustained were severe, with muscles and bones being 'completely pulverised' and victims suffering paralysis and catastrophic internal damage. The youngest victim was two-year-old Avina Bazingar, who later died from her wounds.
US Central Command (Centcom) initially denied involvement in the Lamerd attack, blaming a misfired Iranian cruise missile and stating the US Army did not strike within a 48km radius. However, weeks prior to the attack, Centcom had praised the deployment of the PrSM in combat, calling it a "historic first" and highlighting its "unrivalled deep strike capability." Admiral Brad Cooper, head of Centcom, was quoted as saying, "I just could not be prouder of our men and women in uniform leveraging innovation to create dilemmas for the enemy." The US also blamed Iran for the Minab school strikes but later launched an investigation. Middle East Eye (MEE), an independent media outlet, visited Lamerd and observed no apparent military targets, with witnesses and MEE's observations indicating the absence of any military sites in the area. All reported casualties were civilians. The PrSM missile, fielded in 2023, is designed to replace older systems and has a range of 300-500km, with variants capable of exceeding 1,000km. The US has been investing heavily in expanding its production.