In brief
A U.S. missile hit a building during an Iranian wedding, killing four people, including a child, according to the Iranian Red Crescent. BBC Verify has reviewed the footage of the attack and identified munition remnants. The U.S. says it never targets civilians and that the strike was a response to Iranian drone and missile attacks on American and shipping targets. Iranian Red Crescent and weapons experts confirm the casualties, while U.S. forces argue the strike was on a civilian structure. The incident highlights the escalating tensions in the region.
After the United States resumed strikes against Iran, both sides launched a series of missile and drone attacks across the Middle East. In response to the U.S. operations, Iran launched strikes aimed at American military and commercial targets, sparking the latest escalation.
The Iranian Red Crescent reports that a U.S. missile hit a building in southern Iran during a wedding ceremony, killing four people, including a child. The incident was captured in footage that BBC Verify has analysed, confirming the presence of munition remnants that match a U.S. strike.
BBC Verify’s investigation involved a weapons specialist who examined the remains in the footage. The specialist identified fragments and patterns that are consistent with munitions used by the U.S. military.
U.S. officials contend that the strike targeted a building that did not contain civilians and that the U.S. never deliberately attacks civilian sites. They say the action was a response to "recent attempted attacks" on American forces and commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
Produced by Kevin Nguyen. Graphics by Sally Nicholls. Verification by Paul Brown and Shayan Sardarizadeh. Merlyn Thomas reports.
