On February 28, 2026, a missile strike in Lamerd, Iran, resulted in the deaths of at least 21 civilians, including seven children. An investigation by Airwars and the Associated Press suggests that Lockheed Martin’s Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) was the weapon used in the attack.
The "shotgun" devastation in Lamerd's residential zones
The PrSM, a high-tech weapon manufactured by Lockheed Martin, is engineered to detonate in mid-air, scattering tens of thousands of high-speed metal pellets in every direction. According to the investigation by Airwars and the Associated Press, this "shotgun" effect caused catastrophic damage to a sports complex and two residential neighborhoods in Lamerd. While the weapon is marketed for its pinpoint accuracy, the physical reality in southern Iran was far more indiscriminate.
The lethal radius of the explosion extended as far as 164 feet from the detonation point, though the report says physical damage to vehicles and infrastructure reached more than three times that distance. Iranian officials confirmed that the strike killed at least 21 civilians, a toll that includes seven children. Airwars utilized satellite imagery and geolocation software to map these detonation points, providing a grim picture of the weapon's impact on the local population.
The dispute over the Hoveyzeh cruise missile identification
USCENTCOM has issued a firm denial regarding the use of PrSM in the Lamerd operation, suggesting that security footage actually depicts an Iranian Hoveyzeh cruise missile. This claim, however, has been met with significant skepticism from the international community. The report says that six weapons experts, including former military officials, have pointed out that the missile in the footage lacks the rounded engine design that is a signature of the Hoveyzeh model.
A 310-mile range that complicates urban warfare
The transition from the older ATACMS system , which has a range of roughly 186 miles, to the PrSM, which boasts a range exceeding 310 miles, marks a major shift in ballistic capabilities.. This increased distance provides a clear military advantage but introduces a profound moral dilemma when used near population centers.. Michael Meier, a former U.S. Army adviser on the laws of war, argued that there is almost no justifiable reason to deploy a weapon with such a wide-area effect in a densely populated urban environment.
Who is responsible for the Lamerd munitions?
Despite the empirical evidence provided by open-source intelligence, the exact origin of the Lamerd strike remains a point of intense contention. While USCENTCOM denies responsibility, the Israeli military has also stated it did not conduct strikes as far south as Lamerd on the first day of the conflict, noting their arsenal lacks missiles designed for mid-air detonation. This leaves a critical gap in accountability: if the missile was not an Iranian Hoveyzeh and was not launched by Israel, the identity of the operator remains an unverified and vital piece of the puzzle.
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