What do we know about the fatal US bombing of a wedding in Iran’s Sirik?

Tehran, Iran – The city of Kuhestak, located in southern Iran’s Sirik County in Hormozgan province, close to the Strait of Hormuz, was the target of multiple overnight attacks by the United States military, with local sources and authorities saying a wedding ceremony was struck.

The Hormozgan governor’s office on Wednesday identified four victims as four-year-old Amir Ali Karimi, 16-year-old Mohammad Malahi, 43-year-old Kolsoum Malahi and 43-year-old Zarkhatoun Taheri. More than 60 others were wounded, some seriously.

Tim Hawkins, a spokesperson for US Central Command (CENTCOM), said they were aware of reports of civilian casualties “originated from Iranian state media”.

“The US military never targets civilians, unlike the IRGC,” he said, in reference to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

But while the operational details behind the strikes remain unclear, numerous videos and images from the area, witness accounts and official reports indicate that multiple projectiles hit Kuhestak, some to deadly effect.

Footage showed that several projectiles struck a telecommunications tower located near the city’s shoreline and destroyed it, with some locals saying they believed drones were among the weapons used. Based on fragments found in Kuhestak, defence experts say it might be a variant of the AGM-84K SLAM-ER, which manufacturer Boeing describes as an advanced precision-guided, air-launched cruise missile with “surgical strike capability”.

Wednesday morning’s footage, taken from some distance from the telecom tower, shows at least one direct hit to the roof of the building where the wedding was taking place.

More videos, released by locals and state media, showed partial destruction and debris inside the building, and electricity going out in the area. Women’s and children’s slippers could be seen scattered around. Several other adjacent residential buildings also sustained damage.