An analysis conducted by the New York Times together with weapons experts indicates the first combat use of the newest American ballistic missile, the Precision Strike Missile (PrSM), during a strike on the Iranian city of Lamerd at the start of the conflict. The strike, carried out on a gymnasium and an elementary school near an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps facility, killed at least 21 people and wounded dozens, according to Iranian official sources. Video recordings of the munition’s impact and the aftermath formed the basis for the experts’ conclusion.
Examination of video materials and photographs from the scene revealed an airburst characteristic of the PrSM, in which small tungsten spheres are dispersed in the air, intended to target personnel and light armored vehicles over a wide area. Images show numerous perforations in buildings, a partially collapsed gym roof, shattered school windows, and traces of fire and blood. The absence of a large crater from the explosion supports the hypothesis of an airburst detonation of the warhead, which matches the stated characteristics of this weapon.
Notably, the PrSM, developed by Lockheed Martin to replace the older ATACMS systems, completed testing only a year before these events. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) previously published footage of its launch in the first days of the conflict, and its commander Admiral Brad Cooper confirmed its combat use. An anonymous U.S. official interviewed by the newspaper explicitly stated that this missile was used in the Lamerd strike, which experts view as a precedent for extremely rapid deployment of a new system into real combat conditions.
Despite U.S. claims about the high accuracy of the PrSM, the strike hit clearly civilian facilities. Satellite images and mapping data show that the school and gym are separated from the military site by a wall and for years have functioned as civilian institutions. According to Iran’s UN ambassador Amir Saeed Iravani, at the time of the strike a women’s volleyball team was practicing in the gym, and children were in the school. These facts sparked local condemnation and confirm the presence of civilian casualties.
The New York Times investigation also identified a possible third target of the strike — a cultural center, as reported by local Telegram channels and Iranian media, which observed an additional plume of smoke. This episode requires independent verification. As this is the first use of the PrSM in real conditions, it is impossible to definitively state whether the strike on civilian objects was intentional or the result of a targeting error. However, local reports unambiguously report casualties among children and female athletes, and footage shows mass funerals the next day. CENTCOM representative Tim Hawkins said the command is reviewing these reports, emphasizing that U.S. forces “do not strike civilian targets indiscriminately.”
The PrSM, with a range of about 650 km, represents the newest generation of U.S. tactical missiles, distinguished by increased accuracy. However, the design of its warhead, which detonates in the air and scatters lethal fragments, increases the risk of hitting unintended targets within its effective radius, especially near civilian infrastructure. This incident renews long-standing debates about the ethics and risks of so-called “combat evaluation” — using systems not yet fully proven in real conflicts, where guidance errors can lead to significant accidental civilian casualties.
Comments on the report
What strategic significance does the city of Lamerd have in Iran, and why might it have been chosen as a target for the new weapon? - Lamerd is located in Fars province in southwestern Iran, in a region of strategic importance due to its proximity to key energy infrastructure (gas fields, pipelines) and military facilities. It could be targeted because of its location near sites linked to the nuclear program or security forces, making it vulnerable to strikes aimed at undermining Iran’s energy security or military capability.
What is the role and structure of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Iran, and why do sites near its facilities become targets? - The IRGC is an elite military formation established after the 1979 Islamic Revolution. It operates as a parallel army responsible for internal security, external operations (through the Quds Force), and controls a significant portion of Iran’s economy. Sites near its facilities become targets because the IRGC is viewed as a pillar of the political regime and a tool of Iran’s regional influence; strikes against them aim to weaken the organization’s military, intelligence, and economic capabilities.
How is Telegram used in Iran’s information space, and how reliable are local Telegram channels as sources about such incidents? - Telegram is one of the main platforms for news distribution and communication in Iran, despite periodic official restrictions. Local Telegram channels, often run by journalists, activists, or sources close to various groups, report events quickly. Their reliability varies: some channels have established reputations and sources, while others may spread unverified information or rumors, especially amid an information vacuum around sensitive incidents such as military strikes.
Full version: استهداف قاتل.. الكشف عن استخدام صاروخ "بريزم" الأمريكي بحرب إيران