US Tomahawk struck Iranian base next to school destroyed in deadly attack, video appears to confirm
US Tomahawk struck Iranian base next to school destroyed in deadly attack, video appears to confirm
New footage has surfaced indicating a US missile targeted the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) naval base located near a school in Minab, southern Iran, where Iranian state media reported numerous casualties among children and teachers. The clip, shared by Mehr News—a semi-official Iranian news outlet—shows the moment a missile impacts the base, with experts identifying it as a US-made Tomahawk Land Attack Missile (TLAM).
Recorded from a nearby construction site, the video captures the missile’s trajectory and its explosion at the IRGC facility. As the camera shifts, a massive plume of smoke rises from the direction of Shajareh Tayyiba school, which Iranian officials claim was hit during the strike, killing at least 168 students and 14 educators. This evidence challenges President Donald Trump’s assertion that Iran was responsible for the attack, aligning instead with CNN’s reporting and analysis by military experts.
“Based on what I’ve seen, that was done by Iran,” Trump told reporters Saturday, describing Iranian munitions as “very inaccurate.”
While the administration has not yet definitively blamed the US for the strike, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth acknowledged that “the only side that targets civilians is Iran” when questioned about the incident. Prior to Trump’s statement, the White House had not ruled out US military involvement.
Sam Lair, a research associate at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies, confirmed to CNN that the missile in the video matches the visual profile of a US Tomahawk. “First, it fits the visual characteristics of a TLAM,” Lair explained. “The cruciform shape with centrally mounted wings and a tailkit at the back. Second, the video was taken about 250 meters from the likely impact point. That means the munition has to be large. This rules out other US weapons with similar features, like the GBU-69B.”
Timeline of Events
Analysis suggests the strike occurred on Saturday morning, the start of the Iranian school week. Geolocated videos from CNN show the school and the base were hit simultaneously, with smoke visible from both locations. In 2013, satellite images revealed the school and IRGC base were part of the same compound, but by 2016, a fence had been constructed to separate them. A 2025 image indicated dozens of people were in the school’s courtyard, engaging in what appeared to be recreational activities.
The US Department of Defense did not immediately comment on the use of a Tomahawk missile. Previously, US Central Command had declined to speak about the incident, stating it was still under investigation. CNN continues efforts to secure images of the missile’s remnants to determine its origin, as such evidence is vital for conclusive assessments of responsibility.
“The satellite imagery and videos paint a picture of multiple simultaneous events,” said N.R. Jenzen-Jones, a munitions expert and director of Armament Research Services (ARES). “This supports the idea that the strike was deliberate and linked to the nearby base.”
Without visual confirmation of the weapon used, experts note that assessments remain inconclusive. However, the alignment of timing, location, and missile characteristics strengthens the case for US involvement in the attack.
