Airwars and AP Find a New U.S. Missile Killed Iranian Civilians 164 Feet From Where It Exploded

A review published Aug. 31, 2026 by the conflict monitor Airwars, verified by the Associated Press, found that three missiles that struck the Iranian city of Lamerd on Feb. 28 killed civilians as far as 50 meters (164 feet) from where they detonated. Iranian officials say the blasts killed at least 21 civilians, including seven children. Six weapons experts told AP they believe the weapon was Lockheed Martin's Precision Strike Missile, which detonates midair and sprays tungsten pellets.

The finding bears on whether a weapon the Pentagon is buying at scale can be used near population centers consistent with the laws of armed conflict. CENTCOM's commander told Congress in May that only one case of U.S. fire killing civilians was under investigation. Since the Lamerd strikes the Pentagon signed a contract worth over $4 billion to quadruple production.

U.S. Central Command has confirmed firing the missiles into Iran but denies striking Lamerd, attributing one blast to an Iranian cruise missile; experts told AP the video does not match that model.