Multiple weapons experts have disputed a US claim that Iran may have been responsible for a deadly strike on the town of Lamerd on the first day of the war. Six experts, who reviewed footage of the attack independently, contested the assertion that it was an Iranian missile, citing the missile's visual features, explosion style, trajectory, and the number of strikes in the vicinity. In the attack, Iranian officials reported that 21 people died, including four children.
BBC Verify originally reported that a US Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) was likely used but received a statement from US Central Command (Centcom) denying any US missile involvement, asserting instead that the attack was consistent with an Iranian Hoveyzeh cruise missile. This claim was further challenged by experts who noted distinctive features of the Hoveyzeh missile were not seen in the footage.
On the same day, further strikes occurred in Minab, resulting in significant casualties, and experts analyzed footage suggesting that a US Tomahawk missile took aim at military targets there. Centcom insisted that US forces do not target civilians and emphasized their operations’ focus on military assets.
In ongoing investigations, experts have identified key differences between the missile types, arguing that evidence aligns more with a PrSM based on the manner of the explosion and impact characteristics in Lamerd. As tensions escalate in the region, the debate surrounding the origins of the latest strikes remains contentious.
BBC Verify originally reported that a US Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) was likely used but received a statement from US Central Command (Centcom) denying any US missile involvement, asserting instead that the attack was consistent with an Iranian Hoveyzeh cruise missile. This claim was further challenged by experts who noted distinctive features of the Hoveyzeh missile were not seen in the footage.
On the same day, further strikes occurred in Minab, resulting in significant casualties, and experts analyzed footage suggesting that a US Tomahawk missile took aim at military targets there. Centcom insisted that US forces do not target civilians and emphasized their operations’ focus on military assets.
In ongoing investigations, experts have identified key differences between the missile types, arguing that evidence aligns more with a PrSM based on the manner of the explosion and impact characteristics in Lamerd. As tensions escalate in the region, the debate surrounding the origins of the latest strikes remains contentious.
