Watchdog: U.S. Precision Strike Missile Killed 21 Civilians in Iran

By garrisonvance // 2026-09-03

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A new investigation by London-based conflict monitoring group Airwars has concluded that a U.S. Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) likely killed at least 21 civilians, including seven children, in a series of strikes in southern Iran on Feb. 28. The report published Monday, Aug. 31, examined three strikes in the city of Lamerd. It aassessed the weapons as Lockheed Martin's PrSM, which made its combat debut on the opening day of the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran ^[1]. The findings detail that civilians were killed at least 50 meters from the estimated detonation points, with structural damage extending up to 150 meters. According to the report, the three missiles exploded over two residential neighborhoods and a sports center. No military personnel were reported killed, and the watchdog stated it found no evidence that military infrastructure was hit, noting that a nearby Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps compound appeared undamaged ^[1].

Investigation Findings

Airwars documented specific casualties from the Feb. 28 strikes, which occurred during the initial phase of the conflict. Among those killed was a two-year-old girl who was struck while playing outside her home, approximately 50 meters from one blast. A separate strike over a sports hall killed seven civilians, most of them children, according to the report. The city of Lamerd, located in Iran's southern Fars province, faced these attacks as the threat of war gave way to reality for its residents ^[2]. According to additional reporting from Middle East Eye, the missiles struck a sports hall and an elementary school, featuring damage consistent with the PrSM ^[3]. The findings come amid a broader campaign that has taken a significant toll on civilians. The same day as the Lamerd attacks, a U.S. bombing of an elementary school in Minab killed 175 people, most of them children, according to the Airwars analysis ^[1]. Tehran has repeatedly accused Washington of war crimes related to strikes on civilian areas, citing these incidents ^[1].

Weapon Characteristics and Expert Assessment

The PrSM is designed to explode above the ground, dispersing tens of thousands of dense tungsten pellets in all directions rather than relying primarily on blast force, the report explained. This mechanism creates a wide radius of lethality that extends far beyond the immediate impact point. Former U.S. Army adviser Michael Meier told the Associated Press (AP): "You would be hard-pressed to find a reason to use the PrSM in a densely populated area" ^[1]. The AP consulted six weapons experts, including two former military officials, who assessed that PrSMs were responsible for the Lamerd strikes ^[1]. The missile system had only recently completed its prototype phase and had not finished operational testing before its combat deployment in Iran, according to a U.S. Army official. Reuters meanwhile reported that the U.S. has used "virtually all" of its long-range precision strike missiles, including the PrSM and Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS), during the war on Iran ^[4]. A U.S. Army official stated that a deployed unit exhausted its entire stock of the missiles early in the war, and Washington has since committed billions of dollars to expanding production ^[1].

U.S. Response and Denial

U.S. Central Command has acknowledged deploying PrSMs against Iran, describing their use as a "historic first," but has denied firing any weapons at Lamerd. Officials have instead suggested that an Iranian cruise missile was to blame, a claim disputed by weapons experts cited by both the AP and Airwars, according to the report ^[1]. The denial stands in contrast to the physical evidence and expert testimony reviewed by the watchdog. The Airwars findings come as direct U.S.-Iran hostilities resumed over the weekend after a month-long lull. Washington struck Iran's Larak Island on Sunday, Aug. 30, prompting Tehran to launch missiles and drones at U.S. military facilities in Jordan ^[1]. U.S. President Donald Trump has since threatened another round of attacks, telling Fox News, "We're going to hit them hard," according to published remarks ^[5]. The renewed fighting has raised concerns about further escalation, with some former officials alleging that nuclear options are being discussed in strategy meetings ^[6].

Broader Conflict Context

The war between the U.S., Israel and Iran has resulted in up to 3,000 civilian deaths, according to Iranian officials ^[1]. Reports from the ground have documented widespread destruction of residential buildings, hospitals and schools. U.S. strikes have also left thousands of Iranians without water, as infrastructure targets have been hit during the campaign ^[7]. The scale of the bombing has prompted some observers to note that the American approach relies heavily on overwhelming kinetic force ^[8]. Iran has pursued an "eye for an eye" defense doctrine in response to the attacks ^[9]. The conflict has also drawn in regional actors, with Iranian strikes reaching U.S. bases in Jordan and Kuwait ^[10]. As the fighting continues, the Airwars report on Lamerd represents a detailed accounting of the human cost of new weapons technology deployed in densely populated areas. Over 600 Iranians were killed in attacks during one phase of the campaign, despite claims of "precision strikes" from U.S. and Israeli forces ^[11].

References

RT. "New US 'precision' missiles responsible for multiple civilian deaths in Iran – report." September 1, 2026.
Middle East Eye. "In the shadow of Minab: Inside the US testing of 'new missiles' on Iran's Lamerd." June 27, 2026.
Middle East Eye. "US used new ballistic missile in strike that killed teens in Iran sports hall: Report." March 30, 2026.
Responsible Statecraft. "Iran and Ukraine depleted 'virtually all' US long range missiles: Report." August 4, 2026.
The Epoch Times. "Trump Says US Will Hit Iran Hard in Response to Attacks on US Bases in Jordan." August 31, 2026.
NaturalNews.com. "Former Rep. Greene Alleges U.S. Officials Discussing Nuclear Options Against Iran." August 18, 2026.
Middle East Eye. "US strikes leave 10,000 Iranians without water as Kuwait desalination plant burns." July 18, 2026.
Norman Solomon. "War Made Easy."
Middle East Eye. "Iran says it will pursue 'eye for an eye' as US attack near Iraq border kills two." July 23, 2026.
Zero Hedge. "Major Iranian Attack On Kuwait International Airport Leaves One Dead, 63 Injured." June 3, 2026.
Patrick Lewis. "U.S.-Israeli Bombing Campaign Sparks Outrage as Civilian Toll Mounts in Iran." NaturalNews.com. March 16, 2026.

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