US missile hit military base near Iran school, video analysis shows
US Missile Strike Near Iranian School Sparks Debate
Expert video analysis has revealed that a US Tomahawk missile targeted a military facility close to a primary school in southern Iran, with Iranian officials reporting 168 fatalities, including approximately 110 children. The footage, published by Iran’s semi-official Mehr news agency and authenticated by BBC Verify, captures the missile moments before it impacts an Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) base adjacent to the Shajareh Tayebeh school in Minab.
Accurate Munition Identification
Analysts examining the video confirmed the presence of a US Tomahawk missile, a long-range cruise weapon capable of being launched from submarines, ships, or aircraft. The missile, which has been in the US military arsenal for decades, appears in the terminal phase of its flight, according to McKenzie Intelligence Services. Wes Bryant, a former US Air Force national security analyst, also identified the weapon as a Tomahawk, emphasizing the precision of the strike.
“We think it was done by Iran because they’re very inaccurate, as you know, with their munitions. They have no accuracy whatsoever,”
– said US President Donald Trump during a news briefing aboard Air Force One, though this contradicts evidence suggesting the attack was likely a US operation.
Conflicting Claims and Verification Challenges
Iran has accused both the US and Israel of orchestrating the strike, despite neither country publicly acknowledging or denying responsibility. An Israeli government source told CBS News that Israel’s military was not active near the school at the time. Meanwhile, the US Department of Defense released an illustrative map on 4 March showing Minab as a target in the first 100 hours of the conflict, aligning with a statement by Gen Dan Caine, the US military’s top officer, who noted Tomahawks were the first missiles fired at Iran by the Navy during “strikes across the southern flank.”
The verified video indicates the school was hit alongside other structures in the IRGC complex, with a medical clinic—believed to be part of the navy—located about 200 meters from the site. Bellingcat initially analyzed the footage, highlighting smoke plumes near the school before the missile detonates. This sequence supports the conclusion that the strike occurred simultaneously with other attacks on the facility.
Iranian officials have claimed the missile was launched by their own forces, but experts argue the blast damage is too severe for Iranian munitions, which typically feature smaller warheads. The ongoing internet blackout in Iran has hindered independent verification of the incident, complicating efforts to confirm details about the attack on 28 February.
