New US Missile Linked to Civilian Deaths in Iran, Report Raises Concerns
What Happened
A report by monitoring group Airwars, cited by Associated Press, says a new US-made Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) may have caused civilian casualties in the Iranian city of Lamerd during strikes on February 28. According to the report, three missiles killed civilians up to 50 metres from the blast site and caused damage over a much wider area. Iranian officials said at least 21 civilians, including seven children, were killed.
Key Takeaways
The findings have sparked debate over the use of advanced long-range weapons near populated areas. While the US military has confirmed using the PrSM during operations against Iran, it has denied striking Lamerd, and the exact circumstances remain disputed. Weapons experts cited by AP said such missiles should generally not be used close to civilian populations.