Iran retaliates after US strikes kill four at wedding party, state media reports

Iran launched missile attacks at US military installations in Iraq and Jordan on Wednesday, following a US airstrike that reportedly killed four people, including a child, during a wedding celebration in southern Iran. The incident occurred in Sirik, near the border with Oman, according to the Iranian Red Crescent, which stated that more than 50 others were wounded. The US Central Command confirmed that American forces had resumed strikes against Iran on Tuesday, citing "recent attempted attacks" by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) against commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. The US military claimed it did not target civilians, contrasting its actions with those of the IRGC. US Navy Captain Tim Hawkins, representing Centcom, acknowledged awareness of reports from Iranian state media regarding the Sirik attack. The strikes were part of ongoing tensions between the US and Iran, which escalated after the expiration of a ceasefire agreement signed in June. This agreement, known as the Memorandum of Understanding, had been intended to reduce hostilities, but its termination led to renewed clashes. In response to the US strikes, Iran retaliated by launching a barrage of ballistic missiles at a US Marine base in Jordan’s Aqaba. Local state media and the Jordanian Armed Forces reported that 13 missiles were launched, with 10 intercepted and three landing in remote areas. No casualties were reported as a result of the attack. The Jordanian authorities issued warnings to residents of Aqaba and Mafraq governates about potential debris from the missile strikes, though these alerts were later lifted. Kuwait and Bahrain also reported incidents linked to the Iranian retaliation. The Kuwaiti army stated its air defenses were active against incoming missiles, while Iranian state media described explosions in Bahrain following the attacks. In addition, reports indicated that projectiles struck areas around Chabahar and Konarak, and an airport in Jiroft, with explosions also heard in Qeshm island and Bandar Abbas. President Donald Trump, when the US strikes were announced on Tuesday afternoon, warned that Iran would face a "much harder and higher level" of retaliation if it continued its aggressive actions. This statement came amid broader regional tensions, including the US-Iran agreement that expired in June, allowing both sides to resume hostilities. The US and Iran have both engaged in attacks on shipping, with Iran targeting vessels it claims violated its maritime rules and the US enforcing a naval blockade of Iranian ports. On 28 February, the US and Israel conducted wide-ranging strikes on Iran, prompting a reciprocal attack by Iran on Israeli targets, US bases, and allied states in the Gulf. These actions effectively disrupted maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, highlighting the severity of the situation. The US has also imposed new sanctions on Iran, aiming to isolate the country economically and expand secondary sanctions against its allies. At a G20 finance ministers meeting, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent noted that many US allies expressed willingness to support the sanctions campaign. Despite these efforts, Iranian officials and state media have largely dismissed the sanctions as a continuation of prior US economic measures, arguing that they follow Washington's perceived military failures. However, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, speaking via state media, suggested that Iran would consider reciprocating if the US committed to reviving the agreement. Meanwhile, a senior Iranian source, speaking anonymously, warned that any further US attacks would provoke a harsher response from Tehran, emphasizing that no target in the region is beyond Iran’s reach.