Destruction and casualties reported after alleged US strike hits wedding venue in Kuhestak, Iran

On the night of Sept 1, an alleged US strike hit the Mallahi family residence in the coastal town of Kuhestak, Iran, just as dozens of women and children were gathered for a wedding ceremony. The explosion caused a ceiling to collapse, walls to crack, windows to shatter and a large fire to blacken part of the exterior. Five fatalities were confirmed—a four-year-old child, three women (one of whom later died in hospital) and a man—and roughly 70 people were reported injured.

Iranian officials, including the judiciary and foreign ministry, have accused the United States of using precision-guided munitions and called the incident a war crime, while U.S. officials say they are investigating and did not deliberately target civilians. One outlet reporters noted additional destruction to a nearby 15-metre telecommunications tower, a technical building, and the local pier and barge. The town, usually known for the nearby Strait of Hormuz, was left in shock by the explosions and ensuing damage.