A video released by Iran’s Mehr news agency and verified by the investigative group Bellingcat shows a U.S. Tomahawk missile striking an Iranian Revolutionary Guards naval base adjacent to the Shajareh Tayyebeh primary school in Minab. The attack occurred on the morning of February 28, during the initial wave of U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, and killed more than 168 people, most of them children.
This footage, along with other verified evidence from the site, indicates the U.S. was responsible for hitting the school while targeting the neighboring military compound. The strike destroyed roughly half of the school building, killing numerous girls aged seven to twelve during their morning classes.
The evidence directly contradicts U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim on Sunday that Iran was responsible for the bombing. Trump provided no evidence for his assertion, stating, “In my opinion, based on what I’ve seen, that was done by Iran.”
Munitions experts confirm the weapon in the video is a Tomahawk missile, which is used exclusively by the U.S. in the current conflict. “The video shows a Tomahawk missile striking a target. Given the belligerents, that indicates it is a U.S. strike, as Israel is not known to possess Tomahawk missiles,” said NR Jenzen-Jones of Armament Research Services.
Satellite imagery shows at least four buildings were hit: the school and three structures within the IRGC compound. Although the school building was once part of the military complex, it had been separated by a wall for at least eight years and had clear identifiers of being a school, including playing fields and colorful murals.
The U.S. military has stated it is “investigating” the strike. UNESCO has described the school bombing as a “grave violation” of international law, and Human Rights Watch has called for it to be investigated as a potential war crime.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about the reported video of a US Tomahawk missile striking a base near an Iranian school
BeginnerLevel Questions
1 What is this video about
The video appears to show a US Tomahawk cruise missile striking a military or paramilitary base in Syria Reports indicate the targeted base was located near a school in the town of AlBukamal close to the Iraqi border which was also damaged in the strike
2 What is a Tomahawk missile
A Tomahawk is a longrange precisionguided cruise missile launched from US Navy ships or submarines It flies at low altitudes and can hit targets over 1000 miles away with high accuracy
3 Why did the US launch this strike
The US government stated the strike was in retaliation for attacks by Iranbacked militias on US forces in Iraq and Syria It was aimed at facilities used by these groups
4 Was the school itself the target
According to US officials the school was not the intended target The stated target was a weapons storage facility and safe house used by Iranbacked militias The reported damage to the school is described as collateral damage due to the proximity of the targets
5 What is collateral damage
Collateral damage refers to unintended or incidental injury to civilians or damage to civilian structures that occurs during a military operation targeting legitimate military objectives
Advanced Contextual Questions
6 How can we verify the authenticity of this video
Verification involves checking the videos metadata crossreferencing the location with satellite imagery analyzing the missiles flight characteristics against known Tomahawk footage and seeking confirmation from official sources
7 What are the rules of engagement or laws of war that apply here
The strike falls under the international humanitarian law principles of distinction and proportionality An investigation would assess if these principles were followed
8 What has been the reaction from Iran and regional groups
Iran has condemned the strike as an escalation and a violation of sovereignty Iranbacked militias have vowed retaliation often leading to a cycle of attacks and counterstrikes
