US Investigates Deadly Air Strike on Iranian Wedding Party
The United States Department of Defence is investigating the strong possibility that a deadly air strike that hit a wedding party in Iran was the result of an American bomb missing its primary target. The report comes amid rising tensions between Washington and Tehran.
Iranian authorities said the attack, which took place on Tuesday night (1/9), killed at least four people and wounded 68 others. The incident was part of a wave of air strikes in the heaviest exchange of attacks between the two countries since last July.
A source familiar with the operation revealed to The Washington Post that the Pentagon is conducting an in-depth investigation. Although investigators are also considering the possibility that the explosion came from a fallen air defence missile, the source said that explanation was highly unlikely.
The strike occurred at around 9.30pm local time in Kuhestak, on Iran’s southern coast. The Iranian Red Crescent (IRC) called for an independent, impartial, thorough and effective investigation at the International Criminal Court (ICC), noting that the location struck was a civilian area.
A US official said American forces had in fact targeted a telecommunications complex in the area. Navy jets dropped six bombs, five of which hit their targets. However, one bomb was reported to have gone astray and struck a house.
Visual analysis showed the affected house was about 440 feet (around 134 metres) from the telecommunications tower that was the intended target. Iran’s Deputy Health Minister, Ali Jafarian, confirmed that those killed were two children aged 4 and 16, and two women.
US Vice President JD Vance confirmed that the United States was investigating the incident after weapons experts concluded there was a strong possibility of a direct hit from American munitions. Nevertheless, the Trump administration has not officially accepted full responsibility for the attack.
“We are investigating it because of course we care. We want to know,” Vance said. He added that the US military always learns from its mistakes, unlike the Iranian side. Vance also insisted, with 100 per cent confidence, that America never targets civilians in combat.
On Thursday, mourners gathered near the village of Kuhestak in Sirik District, along the coast of the Strait of Hormuz. Footage from the Mehr news agency showed an emotional funeral procession, including the coffin of a 4-year-old child wrapped in a flag.
Mourners threw flower petals into the air as the coffin passed, whilst military personnel stood to attention in a final salute amid deep grief among local residents. (The Independent/I-2)
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