New US missile appears to have killed Iranian civilians far from its blast site, expert report says

Three missiles fired by the U.S. during the Iran war on February 28, 2024, struck the southern city of Lamerd, killing at least 21 civilians, including seven children. These civilian deaths occurred far from the missiles' detonation points, with some victims located up to 50 meters away. The Precision Strike Missile (PrSM), touted as the future of U.S. military weaponry due to its lethal, long-range, and pinpoint accuracy, appears to have exhibited a wide area of impact, dispersing tens of thousands of dense metal pellets in all directions upon detonation.

Photos, videos, and satellite images of the aftermath in Lamerd support this assessment. The U.S. military confirmed firing PrSMs into Iran but denied attacking Lamerd specifically. Six weapons experts, including two former military officials, believe PrSMs were responsible for the strikes in Lamerd, suggesting that using such a weapon near civilian populations is not advisable.