As a dwelling where a wedding was being held in southern Iran was bombed, killing at least four people including two children, the possibility has been raised that a U.S. bomb aimed at a nearby military facility missed its target and caused a misstrike.
The Washington Post (WP) reported on the 6th (local time), citing sources, that the U.S. Ministry of National Defense is giving weight to the possibility of a misstrike and investigating the exact circumstances of the incident.
On the 1st, U.S. forces carried out an airstrike on a communications complex in the southern Iranian coastal city of Kouhestak. Although the facility sits in a civilian area, U.S. forces were said to have determined that the Iranian military was using it for some operations.
A source said that of the six bombs dropped by a U.S. Navy fighter jet, five hit the target area but the remaining one appears to have gone astray. According to video verified by WP, the damaged dwelling was about 134 meters from the targeted communications complex.
Iranian authorities said at least four people, including two women and children aged 4 and 16, were killed and more than 90 were injured in the blast.
U.S. authorities were said to have ruled out the possibility that the damaged dwelling was intentionally targeted or mistaken for another target. At the time in Kouhestak, the only site designated for attack by U.S. forces was the communications complex.
They are also investigating the possibility that an Iranian air-defense missile fell from the sky and struck the dwelling. However, WP said weapons experts view that possibility as very low.
Tim Hawkins, Spokesperson for U.S. Central Command, said, "Unlike the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), U.S. forces never target civilians."
The operation is one of the retaliatory airstrikes carried out by the United States after Iran raised the level of threats against U.S. forces and merchant ships in and around the Strait of Hormuz.
U.S. forces were said to have confirmed the target location through multiple steps to minimize civilian casualties. But with the possibility of a misstrike raised, debate is likely to flare again over U.S. target selection and procedures to prevent civilian harm.
On Feb. 28, when the Iran war began, a U.S. airstrike aimed at an Iranian military facility also bombed a nearby elementary school, killing at least 175 people including children and teachers. WP previously reported that the incident occurred because U.S. forces used outdated target information.