U.S. Drops Nearly One-Ton Bomb on Building in Iran
According to a New York Times visual investigation, the attack on Qeshm Island used an MK-84 bomb, with no evidence of military targets found nearby.
According to a New York Times visual investigation, the attack on Qeshm Island used an MK-84 bomb, with no evidence of military targets found nearby.
The U.S. military used one of its most destructive non-nuclear bombs in an attack on a residential building on Iran's Qeshm Island on the night of Thursday into Friday, July 30, 2026, killing three people, the New York Times reported, citing satellite imagery and expert analysis.
According to a visual investigation conducted by the newspaper, the crater's diameter and ammunition fragments indicate the use of a heavy MK-84 aerial bomb weighing 2,000 pounds (about 907 kilograms). The New York Times reports that no evidence of military installations could be found nearby, and the attack was carried out in a densely populated area.
According to more detailed information from Clash Report, also citing the New York Times investigation, the bomb struck a family home in Qeshm City. The attack killed a husband, wife, and their two-year-old son, while two children survived.
Based on video footage, satellite images, the size of the crater, and bomb fragments, weapons experts concluded that the attack was consistent with a U.S. JDAM-guided Mark-84 bomb. The intended target of the attack remains unknown.
Captain Tim Hawkins, a spokesman for U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), confirmed to the New York Times that military leadership is aware of the attack and is investigating it. "The U.S. military never targets civilians," Hawkins said.
Experts cited in the report questioned the use of such a large bomb in a densely populated area, especially given the lack of obvious military targets nearby.
The United States and Israel began a war with Iran on February 28, 2026. In June, Washington and Tehran signed a memorandum of understanding that called for an immediate cessation of hostilities on all fronts, including Lebanon. However, on the night of July 8, 2026, the U.S. resumed major strikes on Iran, accusing it of violating the agreement on the Strait of Hormuz.
The New York Times also reported that during the brief truce, Iran secretly developed a plan to raise the cost of the war for President Donald Trump in the event of new U.S. attacks, using its network of allies in the region.
