In the shadow of Minab: Inside the US testing of 'new missiles' on Iran’s Lamerd

What Happened

On 28 February, four Lockheed Martin Precision Strike Missiles (PrSM) reportedly struck residential areas, a school, and a sports facility in Lamerd, Fars province, Iran. The attack occurred six hours after a separate strike on the Shajareh Tayyebeh school in Minab, Hormozgan province. According to local parliamentarian Dr. Moussa Mousavi, the Lamerd strikes resulted in 21 deaths, including six children, and over 150 injuries. While Middle East Eye reports that US Central Command (Centcom) initially posted social media statements celebrating the use of PrSMs during 'Operation Epic Fury,' Centcom subsequently issued an official denial on 31 March, attributing the Lamerd incident to a misfired Iranian Hoveyzeh cruise missile and asserting that US forces did not operate within a 48km radius of the town.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The incident represents a significant escalation in the direct confrontation between the United States and Iran, involving the alleged first-time combat deployment of a new long-range missile system against Iranian territory. The conflicting narratives regarding the source of the munitions and the high civilian casualty count underscore the volatility of the current security environment in southern Iran.

Watch For

Monitor for further independent forensic investigations into the debris found in Lamerd to verify the origin of the munitions, as well as any potential retaliatory actions by Iranian state actors or proxies in response to the reported casualties.