The latest escalation in the US-Iran war has raised fresh concerns over civilian casualties after Iranian authorities reported 18 deaths and 108 injuries following US strikes across the country. Iran’s health minister said the casualties were recorded during attacks on Tuesday night. The Iranian Red Crescent separately reported that a strike near the Strait of Hormuz hit a wedding ceremony, killing four people and injuring 67 others.
Wedding Ceremony Hit Near Strait Of Hormuz
The reported strike on the wedding has drawn international concern. The Iranian Red Crescent released footage showing damage to a building, debris scattered around the site and a fallen utility structure. Satellite imagery reviewed by Reuters was used to verify the location of the damaged site and the nearby fallen tower. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed alarm over reports of civilian casualties and urged an immediate end to the military escalation.
The UN also reiterated that all sides involved in the conflict must comply with international humanitarian law and protect civilians.
Iran Launches Retaliatory Attacks
Iran has responded to the latest US military action with missile and drone attacks targeting locations it identified as linked to American forces. Attacks were reported in Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait and Iraq, with Kuwait’s military saying its air-defence systems intercepted additional missiles and drones early Thursday. The renewed fighting follows a period of relative calm after an earlier exchange of attacks in July, although diplomatic efforts failed to produce a lasting agreement.
Iran War Civilian Toll
The latest deaths add to the much larger number of casualties recorded since the conflict began. The Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) said 3,636 people had been documented as killed in Iran as of April 7, including 1,701 civilians. The US military has reported 18 American service members killed and more than 750 wounded.Â
The US Central Command has rejected claims that American forces deliberately target civilians, saying its operations are directed at military objectives.
Earlier School Strike Under Investigation
The latest incident has also revived scrutiny of an earlier strike on a school in Minab, where 160 people were reportedly killed at a girls’ school during the opening phase of the war. The Pentagon has not yet released its final findings on that incident. Sources cited by Reuters said outdated targeting information may have contributed to the strike.
US lawmakers have called for the investigation’s findings to be made public.
Strait Of Hormuz Remains Key Flashpoint
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the biggest pressure points in the conflict. Iran has threatened oil tankers attempting to pass through the waterway without its authorisation, sharply reducing maritime traffic. The strait is a crucial global energy route, carrying roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply before the war. The continued disruption has raised concerns over energy markets and the broader economic consequences of a prolonged US-Iran confrontation.
