US Tomahawk Missile May Have Struck School in Iran, Killing 180 Children, Video Analysis Suggests
Minab, Iran — Fresh video evidence analysed by investigators suggests that a U.S. Tomahawk cruise missile may have struck a military facility located next to a school in southern Iran during the ongoing conflict involving the United States and Israel, causing one of the deadliest civilian tragedies of the war. The footage, reviewed by journalists and weapons experts, has raised serious concerns about civilian casualties and the accuracy of the strike.
Video Raises New Questions About the Strike
According to reports citing analysis by The New York Times, a video circulating online appears to show a Tomahawk missile hitting a naval base near an elementary school in the Iranian city of Minab in Hormozgan province. The incident occurred on February 28, during the early phase of large-scale US-Israeli attacks on Iranian targets.
The seven-second clip reportedly shows a projectile descending before a large explosion occurs close to the school compound. Experts who examined the footage said the missile’s shape, flight path and speed strongly resemble a Tomahawk cruise missile — a weapon widely used by the United States military.
Analysts noted that none of the other countries involved in the conflict are known to possess Tomahawk missiles, making the United States the most likely operator of the weapon seen in the video.
School Located Next to Military Facility
The strike reportedly occurred near the Shajareh Tayyebeh girls’ elementary school, which was situated very close to a naval complex belonging to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) . Investigations show the school was located only a short distance from the military installation that appeared to be the intended target of the strike.
Some reports suggest the school building may once have been part of the military complex years earlier but had been functioning as a civilian educational institution for more than a decade before the attack. Satellite imagery indicates that the school and the military facility had been separated by walls and were clearly distinct sites.
Heavy Civilian Casualties Reported
Iranian authorities claim the explosion killed between 168 and 180 people, the majority of them schoolchildren who were inside the building during the strike. Dozens more were reportedly injured. If confirmed, the incident would represent one of the deadliest civilian tragedies since the war began.
Images and videos from the aftermath showed rescuers pulling victims from rubble while families searched for missing children. Several classrooms and other sections of the school building were destroyed by the blast.
Investigations Underway
The United States has not officially confirmed responsibility for the attack. However, American officials have acknowledged that US forces were conducting missile strikes in the area that day as part of a broader operation targeting Iranian military infrastructure.
A US investigation is reportedly examining whether American forces may have accidentally struck the school while targeting nearby military facilities. Officials emphasised that US policy prohibits deliberate attacks on civilians and that the incident is being reviewed.
Experts believe the strike may have been aimed at the IRGC compound next to the school, but the proximity of the two sites could have contributed to the high number of civilian casualties. Some analysts have also suggested the possibility that outdated intelligence about the location may have played a role.
Global Reaction and Concerns
The incident has sparked widespread concern among international observers and human rights organisations. Many have called for an independent investigation into the attack and its circumstances, warning that strikes on civilian structures such as schools could violate international humanitarian law.
The tragedy has also intensified global scrutiny of military operations in the region as the conflict between Iran, the United States and Israel continues to escalate.
Conflict Continues to Escalate
The strike on Minab took place during a wider wave of attacks targeting Iranian military installations across the country. The escalation began when US and Israeli forces launched coordinated operations against Iranian defence systems, missile launch sites and other strategic targets.
Since then, Iran has responded with missile and drone attacks against US and allied targets in the Middle East, raising fears that the conflict could expand into a larger regional war.
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Conclusion
As investigations into the Minab strike continue, the incident has become one of the most controversial episodes of the ongoing conflict — highlighting the devastating impact that modern warfare can have on civilians caught near military targets.
Up to 180 children dead. A school destroyed. A Tomahawk missile’s deadly legacy in Iran.
