A deadly missile strike that hit a school compound in Minab on February 28 may have been caused by a Tomahawk missile, according to conflict researcher Trevor Ball. Ball, who works with the investigative fact-checking organization Bellingcat, said newly surfaced video footage suggests the missile used in the attack matches the characteristics of a Tomahawk cruise missile, which is widely known to be operated by the United States military. 

The strike occurred on the first day of a joint military campaign by the United States and Israel targeting Iranian military installations and regime-linked facilities across major cities, including Tehran. During the attack, a missile exploded near the Shajarah Tayyebeh Elementary School, killing more than 165 people, most of them children. The blast marked one of the deadliest civilian incidents reported since the conflict began.

In a detailed thread posted on X, Ball shared previously unseen footage released by Iran’s Mehr News Agency showing a missile striking a building within a compound associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. He argued that the footage provided the first visual indication that the United States may have carried out the strike. Ball emphasized that Israel is not publicly known to possess Tomahawk missiles, strengthening the possibility of U.S. involvement.

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Ball also said the footage had been geolocated to confirm the exact strike site. Satellite imagery of the compound showed damage to two structures within the missile’s impact zone, including a clinic and what appeared to be an earth-covered bunker. The site is located next to the Seyyed Al‑Shohada Cultural Complex, which includes a pharmacy, sports facilities, and other buildings linked to the Revolutionary Guard.

The incident has sparked conflicting claims from governments involved in the conflict. Donald Trump suggested the attack may have been carried out by Israel or even by Iran itself, arguing that Iranian weapons are often inaccurate. However, Israel has denied conducting the strike, while Iran has blamed both the United States and Israel for the incident.

Officials from the United States Department of Defense, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, said the incident is currently under investigation. Reports cited by Associated Press suggested that U.S. authorities had launched a formal “assessment,” a process typically initiated when there is a possibility that American military actions may have caused civilian casualties. Meanwhile, international organizations including the United Nations have condemned the strike, noting that attacks on schools are considered a violation of international humanitarian law. 

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