Iran: Iran announced Thursday that a US missile strike on a sports hall in the country's south resulted in the deaths of 21 civilians on February 28, including teenagers. The attack was condemned by Iranian officials who labeled it a 'despicable war crime.' Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei reported that the strike hit a sports facility located in the city of Lamerd in Fars province. Baqaei highlighted that the missile exploded above its target, dispersing lethal tungsten pellets to maximize human casualties.

According to Anadolu Agency, visual evidence examined by New York Times and weapons experts, the strike involved a newly developed US missile that targeted civilian sites in southern Iran. The targeted locations included a sports hall and an adjacent elementary school near a military compound in Lamerd. Analysis of the evidence suggested that the weapon used was a Precision Strike Missile (PrSM), a short-range ballistic missile developed by the US Army.

The US and Israel have been conducting an air offensive on Iran since February 28, which has resulted in over 1,340 deaths, including the then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. In response, Iran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel and other regions, including Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries hosting US military assets. These retaliatory strikes have caused casualties, damage to infrastructure, and disruptions to global markets and aviation.