US Fighter Jet Bomb Missed Target in Apparent Strike on Iran Wedding Venue: WP

A recent airstrike that hit a house in southern Iran where a wedding was taking place, causing civilian casualties, is believed to have been caused by a U.S. military bomb that missed its intended target near a nearby military facility.

Citing sources, The Washington Post (WP) reported on the 6th (local time) that the U.S. Department of Defense is investigating the exact circumstances while giving weight to this possibility.

On the 1st, the U.S. military conducted an airstrike targeting a communications complex in the southern coastal city of Kuhestak, Iran.

Although the complex was located in a civilian area, the U.S. military determined that it was being used by the Iranian military for certain operations, according to WP.

A source with knowledge of the operation stated that out of six bombs dropped by a U.S. Navy fighter jet toward the site, five hit their target, but one appeared to have missed.

According to video footage verified by WP, the house where the wedding was being held was located about 440 feet (approx. 134 meters) away from the targeted facility.

Iranian authorities previously stated that the explosion killed at least four people, including two women and children aged 4 and 16, and injured more than 90 others.

U.S. officials are reportedly ruling out the possibility that the house was intentionally targeted or confused with another target.

The communications complex was the only site designated as an attack target in Kuhestak at the time.

Officials are also examining the possibility that an air defense missile falling from the sky caused the tragedy, but weapons experts view this possibility as very low, WP reported.

Tim Hawkins, a spokesperson for the U.S. Central Command, said, "Unlike the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the U.S. military never targets civilians."

This U.S. airstrike was one of a series of retaliatory strikes launched in response to Iran escalating threats against U.S. forces and commercial vessels in areas such as the Strait of Hormuz.

While U.S. officials reportedly went through multi-step procedures to verify target locations to minimize civilian casualties, the raising of a possible misdirected strike could reignite controversy surrounding the U.S. military's target selection and civilian protection procedures.

Previously, on February 28 when the war with Iran began, a U.S. airstrike targeting an Iranian military facility hit a nearby elementary school, resulting in the deaths of at least 175 people, including children and teachers.

WP previously reported that the cause of that incident was the U.S. military's use of outdated target intelligence.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.