New US missile appears to have left wide path of death and destruction in Iranian city, report says

Key Points:

• Lockheed Martin’s Precision Strike Missile (PrSM), touted as a lethal, long-range weapon, was reportedly used in combat for the first time during the Iran war, striking the city of Lamerd and killing at least 21 civilians, including children, according to Airwars and Iranian officials.
• The PrSM detonates midair, releasing tens of thousands of tungsten pellets over a wide area, causing damage and civilian casualties up to 50 meters from the blast site, raising concerns about its use near populated areas.
• The U.S. military confirmed firing PrSMs into Iran but denies involvement in the Lamerd strikes, attributing some footage to an Iranian missile, while experts and the Israeli military dispute these claims and suggest the PrSM was responsible.
• Airwars used geolocation and open-source materials to map the blast radius and civilian casualties, finding no evidence of military targets hit in Lamerd, highlighting the weapon’s potential risks to civilians.
• Despite the controversy, the U.S., U.K., and Australia are investing billions to increase PrSM production and procurement, with experts emphasizing the need for cautious deployment to avoid civilian harm.