Vice President JD Vance has dismissed claims that a U.S. airstrike hit a residential wedding party in southern Iran, asserting with “100% confidence” that the United States military does not target non-combatants.
Speaking at a White House press conference, Vance stated he was “extremely skeptical” of reports originating out of Tehran regarding the strike in Kuhestak, which independent humanitarian groups—including the Iranian Red Crescent—reported killed four civilians and wounded dozens more.
“What I can say with 100% confidence is that, unlike the IRGC, the United States never targets civilians in combat,” Vance told reporters. “We never will do that. We never have done that, and unfortunately, obviously, sometimes things happen.”
The Vice President added that while the Pentagon is actively investigating the incident, American forces operate with clear ethical protocols, learning from targeting mistakes when they occur.
The incident comes amidst renewed military exchanges in the region. U.S. Central Command confirmed strikes targeting Iranian air defenses, radar systems, and naval assets in the area, though it did not confirm whether a civilian structure fell within the targeted perimeter. Vance’s comments sparked immediate pushback from congressional critics who warned against downplaying civilian casualties as the regional confrontation enters its seventh month.
