US missile hit military base near Iran school, video analysis shows
US Missile Hit Military Base Near Iran School, Video Analysis Shows
Iranian officials claim 168 individuals, including approximately 110 children, perished when a US Tomahawk missile struck a military facility close to a primary school in southern Iran. Expert analysis of video footage, verified by BBC Verify, supports this account, identifying the missile as part of a US-led attack. The video, released by Iran’s semi-official Mehr news agency and confirmed authentic by BBC Verify, captures a Tomahawk missile moments before it impacts an Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) base adjacent to the Shajareh Tayebeh school in Minab.
Video Evidence Indicates US Operation
The footage, initially examined by online investigative group Bellingcat, displays substantial smoke plumes near the school prior to the missile’s detonation at the military site. This sequence aligns with BBC Verify’s earlier findings that the school was targeted alongside other structures in the surrounding IRGC compound. Three specialists confirmed the munition in the video as a US Tomahawk, noting its terminal phase characteristics.
US and Israel’s Role in the Attack
US President Donald Trump attributed the strike to Iran, criticizing its “inaccuracy” and claiming it lacked precision. “We think it was done by Iran because they’re very inaccurate, as you know, with their munitions. They have no accuracy whatsoever,” he stated during a press briefing on Air Force One. Meanwhile, a CBS News report cited a US assessment suggesting the attack was “likely” carried out by the US, though it may have been an unintentional hit. An Israeli official denied involvement, stating the military was not active near the school at the time.
Missile Details and Blast Impact
The Tomahawk, a long-range cruise missile deployable from submarines, ships, and aircraft, has been part of the US arsenal for decades. A senior analyst from McKenzie Intelligence Services described the missile in the video as exhibiting “all the hallmarks of a US Tomahawk in its terminal phase.” The blast damage near the school, however, was deemed unlikely to have resulted from an Iranian missile, as they typically carry smaller warheads, according to N R Jenzen Jones of Armament Research Services.
Verification Challenges in Iran
Iran’s ongoing internet blackout has hindered independent confirmation of the incident. Restrictions on international journalists’ ability to report freely further complicate efforts to determine the exact events of the attack on 28 February. The US military’s top officer, Gen Dan Caine, mentioned that Tomahawks were among the first missiles deployed by the Navy against Iran’s southern flank in early March. The Department of Defense also released a map highlighting the Minab area as a target within the first 100 hours of the conflict.
As of now, both the US and Israel have not officially claimed responsibility for the strike, leaving the incident’s origins under scrutiny. The BBC has sought clarification from the US government regarding the experts’ assessment of the video.
