Iran says US bombed a wedding party in Sirik, killing five people - aljazeera.com

**Iran Accuses United States of Bombing Wedding Party in Sirik**

Iran’s foreign ministry said on Saturday that a U.S. strike hit a wedding party in the coastal town of Sirik, in the Hormozgan province, killing five civilians, including women and children. Tehran’s claim was echoed by officials in the provincial governor’s office, who released photographs of the damaged venue and the victims’ families. The United States has not confirmed the incident, but a U.S. Central Command spokesperson reiterated that American forces continue to conduct “targeted operations against legitimate terrorist threats” in the region, without providing details about any civilian casualties.

In response to the alleged attack, Iran launched a series of retaliatory missile and drone strikes against U.S. military facilities in Iraq and Syria, as reported by The Guardian and other regional outlets. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed to have hit air bases and logistical hubs used by U.S. forces, asserting that the strikes were “proportionate” and aimed at deterring further aggression. No American casualties were reported, and the U.S. Department of Defense described the Iranian response as “unwarranted escalation” that jeopardizes regional stability.

The incident comes after a relatively quiet period in U.S.-Iran relations that followed the 2023 nuclear‑deal negotiations and a series of indirect prisoner exchanges. Analysts warned that the Sirik strike, whether intentional or accidental, could reignite a cycle of tit‑for‑tat attacks reminiscent of the 2020‑2021 confrontations. International observers, including the United Nations, have called for an independent investigation to verify the facts and to prevent further loss of civilian life in an already volatile Middle East.