US strikes kill four at wedding in Iran; Iran fires missiles at US bases
Iran launched missile attacks on US military bases and positions in Jordan and other parts of the region on Wednesday, according to state media and local officials, after American air strikes killed four people, including a child, at a wedding celebration in southern Iran.
The Iranian Red Crescent said a US missile had struck a house in Sirik, where a wedding was being held, killing four and wounding more than 50. The details of the incident could not be independently verified, and US military officials have said they are looking into the report.
US Central Command (Centcom) said the strikes, which began on Tuesday, were carried out in response to "recent attempted attacks" by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) against commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. The strait is a critical waterway for global oil shipments.
According to Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency, the IRGC fired a barrage of ballistic missiles at a US Marine base near the Jordanian port of Aqaba in retaliation for the Sirik deaths. The Jordanian Armed Forces said its air defences had intercepted 13 missiles, with ten destroyed and three landing in remote areas. No casualties or significant damage were reported.
Kuwait's army also said its air defences were responding to Iranian missile attacks, and Iranian state media reported explosions in Bahrain. The extent of those attacks and any damage remained unclear.
US President Donald Trump, announcing the strikes on Tuesday, warned that Iran would face a "much harder and higher level" of military response if it took retaliatory action. His remarks came as the Pentagon said the initial strikes had targeted IRGC positions and infrastructure.
The latest exchange is part of a series of tit-for-tat attacks between Washington and Tehran that have escalated in recent weeks. Earlier this week, US forces struck two rocket launchers on Iran's Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz, which the Pentagon said were being prepared for use against commercial shipping. Iran subsequently launched missiles at air bases in Jordan and a drone at an airfield in the United Arab Emirates.
Centcom said the latest round of strikes on Iran began at 12:00 ET (16:00 GMT) on Tuesday and were completed by early Wednesday. Iranian state media reported projectiles hitting areas including Chabahar, Konarak, and an airport in Jiroft, with explosions also being heard on Qeshm island and in the port city of Bandar Abbas.
Speaking to the BBC, US Navy Captain Tim Hawkins, speaking for Centcom, said the military was aware of the Iranian Red Crescent report about Sirik. He said, "The US military never targets civilians, unlike the IRGC." The IRGC has not commented directly on the civilian deaths, but it has said the US would "regret" the strikes.
The conflict has raised international concern about stability in the Gulf. The Strait of Hormuz, through which about a fifth of the world's oil passes, has seen increased incidents in recent months. Diplomats from several countries have urged restraint from both sides.
Human rights groups and local officials have expressed alarm over the civilian toll from air strikes. The reported killing of four people at a wedding has drawn particular condemnation, although verification remains difficult in the aftermath of the attacks.
The situation remains fluid, with both sides vowing to respond to any further provocations. International observers are closely watching for any signs of further escalation.
