Deadly US munition appears to have wreaked destruction on Iranian city, experts say

Key Points:

• The U.S. military’s Precision Strike Missile (PrSM), designed for long-range precision strikes, was likely used in the first day of the Iran war, striking the southern city of Lamerd and killing at least 21 civilians, including children, according to conflict monitor Airwars and weapons experts.
• The PrSM explodes midair, releasing tens of thousands of tungsten pellets that spread over a wide area, causing damage and civilian casualties far beyond the immediate blast site, raising concerns about its use near populated areas.
• The U.S. military has confirmed firing PrSMs into Iran but denies involvement in the Lamerd strikes, attributing the attack to an Iranian missile; Israeli officials also deny responsibility, and experts say the missile observed does not match Iranian or Israeli models.
• Airwars used open-source materials, satellite imagery, and geolocation to map the blast radius and civilian casualties, finding damage and deaths up to 170 meters from detonation points, with no confirmed military targets hit in Lamerd.
• Despite concerns, the Pentagon and allied countries like the U.K. and Australia are investing heavily in PrSM procurement, emphasizing the missile’s advanced capabilities but urging cautious use to avoid civilian harm.