US Tomahawk Missile Implicated in Iranian School Strike Killing 168
Newly released footage appears to show that a US Tomahawk missile is responsible for a devastating blast that struck a girls school in Iran during the opening days of the Middle East conflict, killing 168 people. The video, which captures the moment of impact as a missile slams into a building and triggers a massive column of black smoke, was filmed on the day of the school strike and released this Sunday by Iran's Mehr news agency.
Bellingcat's Digital Investigation
The footage was first scrutinized by Bellingcat, an independent investigative collective of researchers, investigators and citizen journalists. The group states they design and share verifiable methods of ethical digital investigation. Bellingcat researcher Trevor Ball identified the projectile as a Tomahawk, a cruise missile exclusive to the American arsenal.
The findings from Bellingcat create a significant rift in the official narrative. The group stated that the visual evidence appears to contradict the Trump administration's claims, which had previously laid the blame for the school tragedy squarely on Tehran.
Official Denials and Contradictory Reports
On board Air Force One this Saturday, President Trump addressed the recent strike involving Iran, asserting that US forces played no part in the February 28 bombing. When pressed by the press corps regarding potential American involvement, Trump clarified the administration's stance: 'No, in my opinion, based on what I've seen, that was done by Iran.'
US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, standing behind Trump, said 'we're certainly investigating' who was behind the attack, but agreed with Trump that it is something Iran might have done. Hegseth added, 'But, the only side that targets civilians is Iran,' before Trump doubled down on his claim about Iranian inaccuracy with munitions.
However, the White House did not respond to several requests for comment about the veracity of Bellingcat's findings. Meanwhile, sources tell CBS News that they believe the US may be responsible for the bombing of the girls school, based on a preliminary US assessment.
Conflicting Intelligence and Tragic Error
Investigators are focusing on the proximity of the hit to the school in Minab, which sits directly alongside a Revolutionary Guard base. According to one official, the school was reportedly not an intentional target. The incident may have been a tragic error resulting from the use of obsolete intelligence, which incorrectly flagged the location as an active Iranian military facility, according to a source briefed on the preliminary intelligence who spoke with CBS News.
US Central Command has confirmed using Tomahawk missiles in their military campaign. Israel's military was also reportedly not operating in the area, according to two sources who spoke with CBS News.
Victims and Global Reaction
The bombing killed 175 people, mostly children between the ages of seven and twelve, along with staff members, on February 28. Dramatic images released after the attack showed numerous graves dug up so the victims could be laid to rest.
The school attack has sparked controversy across the world, leaving many upset to hear that young, innocent children were killed. During a White House briefing on Wednesday, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the airstrike was not launched by the US 'that we know of', and said the 'Department of War is investigating' the attack.
Media Reports and Political Fallout
Trump's claim comes after Reuters and The Wall Street Journal reported that the US was 'likely responsible' for last week's strike. US officials told the WSJ: 'US military investigators think American forces likely were responsible for a strike that killed dozens of children at a girls' elementary school in Iran.' The investigation hasn't reached a final conclusion, the outlet reported on Friday.
Fox News reporter Laura Ingraham also hit out at the US for reportedly being behind the deadly airstrike. 'If true, this is horrific news – and the U.S. military will have to address this publicly. Proximity of military compound obviously a factor, but our weapons also have pinpoint accuracy,' she wrote on X, linking the WSJ article.
The attack stands among the deadliest incidents so far in the US-Israeli campaign against Iran. Officials said most of the victims were young children, and it remains unclear why the school was hit and which nation fired the airstrike.
