Investigation Launched into Potential US Role in Iranian School Strike

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Footage Raises Questions Over Strike Near Elementary School​

A newly surfaced video and subsequent analyses indicate that a US cruise missile may have struck an area near an elementary school in southern Iran during the first day of the conflict on February 28, raising questions about responsibility for the deadly incident.

The footage, released by Iran’s semi-official Mehr News Agency, shows a missile hitting a building inside an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps facility in Minab. At the moment of impact, dust and smoke are already visible rising from a nearby school compound, suggesting the school had likely been struck moments earlier.

The school, identified as Shajarah Tayyebeh elementary school, was located next to the military installation.

Experts Identify Missile as Tomahawk​

Weapons specialists who reviewed the footage said the projectile appears to match a Tomahawk cruise missile.

Trevor Ball, a former US Army explosive ordnance disposal technician, and security consultant Chris Cobb-Smith both identified the missile in the video as a Tomahawk based on its visible characteristics.

An analysis by The New York Times also concluded that the footage appears to show a Tomahawk missile striking the IRGC naval facility adjacent to the school in Minab.

The video is significant because it is the first visual evidence showing that US forces struck the area during the opening phase of the attacks.

Incident Occurred During Opening Wave of Attacks​

The strike took place on February 28 as the United States and Israel launched the first wave of attacks against Iran.

Later the same day, Iran began retaliatory strikes targeting US and Israeli positions.

Reports cited by multiple sources suggest the school was heavily damaged during the incident. Estimates of casualties vary, with figures ranging from about 150 students to as many as 175 people killed, many of them children.

Trump Rejects Claims of US Responsibility​

US President Donald Trump rejected claims that American forces were responsible for the strike on the school.

“No. In my opinion and based on what I’ve seen, that was done by Iran,” Trump said when questioned by a reporter on Saturday, adding that Iranian munitions were “very inaccurate.”

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said the Pentagon was investigating the incident but stated that the United States does not target civilians.

Tomahawk Missile Capabilities​

The Tomahawk cruise missile is a long-range precision weapon used by the US Navy.

According to information from the US military, the missile has a range of roughly 1,000 miles and measures about 20 feet in length with a wingspan of around 8.5 feet.

It follows a pre-programmed flight path using onboard navigation systems and typically carries a warhead equivalent to about 300 pounds of TNT.

The missile is designed to fly at low altitude and strike targets with high precision, making it commonly used during the opening stages of military operations.

Investigation Into Possible US Role​

A separate report on March 5 cited two US officials familiar with the matter who said American military investigators believe it is likely that US forces were responsible for the strike. However, the investigation had not yet reached a final conclusion.

The officials said the inquiry remains ongoing and that additional evidence could still emerge that might clarify responsibility for the incident.

Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva said the attack killed about 150 students. Another report cited by The New York Times estimated that as many as 175 people died in the strike.

UN Calls for Investigation​

The United Nations human rights office has called for a formal investigation into the Minab incident.

The office said responsibility lies with the forces that carried out the attack and noted that under international humanitarian law, deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure such as schools could constitute a war crime.