New Video Suggests US Tomahawk Missile May Be Behind Iran School Attack That Killed 165

A newly surfaced video has intensified global debate over a deadly airstrike in southern Iran after analysts said the footage appears to show a U.S. Tomahawk cruise missile striking an area near a school in the city of Minab. The attack, which occurred on February 28, reportedly killed more than 165 people, many of them schoolchildren, making it one of the deadliest incidents of the ongoing regional conflict.

The footage, circulated by Iranian media and later examined by open-source investigators, shows a missile descending moments before an explosion near a compound close to the Shajareh Tayyiba primary school in Iran’s Hormozgan province. Weapons analysts and investigative group Bellingcat say the shape and flight pattern seen in the video resemble a Tomahawk cruise missile, a weapon system used by the United States Navy.

Investigators Analyze the Footage

The short video clip was geolocated by analysts using satellite imagery and surrounding landmarks. According to investigators, the missile appears to have struck a site near an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) compound, which was believed to be the intended target of a broader strike during the opening phase of the current conflict.

Experts say the Tomahawk missile is significant because it is not known to be used by most other countries involved in the conflict, strengthening speculation that the strike may have originated from U.S. forces operating in the region.

However, analysts also caution that the video alone does not provide absolute proof of responsibility, and a full investigation is still ongoing.

Deadly Strike During School Hours

The missile strike reportedly occurred during school hours, devastating the elementary school building and surrounding structures. Iranian authorities say the majority of the victims were young students and teachers, while dozens more were injured.

Emergency crews and volunteers spent hours searching through the rubble after the blast, as distraught parents gathered outside the destroyed school. Images from the site showed collapsed walls, scattered school supplies, and rescue workers attempting to locate survivors.

The tragedy has drawn widespread condemnation from humanitarian organizations and international leaders. UNESCO described the incident as a “grave violation of humanitarian law”, emphasizing that schools and children are protected under international rules of war.

Conflicting Claims and Investigation

The United States has denied deliberately targeting a school and has not officially confirmed responsibility for the strike. Earlier statements suggested the attack may have been linked to Iranian military activity in the area.

Nevertheless, some reports indicate that U.S. officials have launched an internal investigation after evidence suggested that American forces may have been responsible for the strike.

Analysts say the school was located close to a former or nearby military compound, which may have complicated targeting decisions during the air campaign.

Rising Global Concern

The incident has become one of the most controversial events of the escalating war involving Iran and Western-backed forces. Human rights groups and international organizations have called for an independent investigation to determine responsibility and ensure accountability if international laws were violated.

For now, the newly released video has added another layer of scrutiny to the tragedy, fueling debate about military targeting, civilian safety, and the growing humanitarian toll of the conflict.