US Tomahawk missile struck Iranian base next to school destroyed in deadly attack, video shows

Footage has emerged that appears to show a US missile striking an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) naval base next to the school where Iranian state media say scores of children were killed, reports CNN.

A new video posted by Mehr News Agency is the first to show missiles hitting the Minab area in southern Iran on 28 February.

The footage, filmed from a nearby construction site, shows a munition that experts said is consistent with an American Tomahawk Land Attack Missile striking a location inside the IRGC base.

As the camera pans to the right, a large plume of smoke can be seen rising from the direction of the Shajareh Tayyiba school, where Iranian state media say at least 168 children and 14 teachers were killed.

According to the CNN report, the video adds to a body of evidence that appears to contradict claims by US President Donald Trump that Iran was responsible for the attack.

The report also aligns with earlier CNN reporting, expert analysis and findings by other outlets that suggested the US military was likely responsible for the strike on the school.

The United States Department of Defense did not immediately respond to questions about the possible use of a Tomahawk missile. Earlier, the United States Central Command told CNN it would be inappropriate to comment while the incident remains under investigation.

Sam Lair, a research associate at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies, told CNN the munition seen in the video is consistent with a US Tomahawk missile.

"First, it fits the visual characteristics of a TLAM," he said. "The cruciform shape with centrally mounted wings and a tail kit at the back. Second, the video was taken about 250 metres from the likely impact point, meaning the munition must be large. This rules out other US munitions with similar visual characteristics, such as the GBU-69B."

Other weapons experts consulted by CNN agreed with this assessment and noted that Tomahawk missiles are often used in opening strikes before air superiority is achieved.

It was not immediately clear which exact building was hit. However, CNN's analysis suggested the strike targeted a building within or immediately next to a medical clinic operated by the IRGC at the base.

Experts told CNN that only the US Navy operates Tomahawk missiles, launching them from surface ships and submarines, not Israel.

A previous CNN analysis of satellite imagery, geolocated videos, official statements from US authorities and assessments by munitions experts had already concluded that the US was likely responsible for the strike.

At the time, CNN had not been able to examine remnants of the weapons used in the attack, which are typically analysed by experts to determine their origin. The network said it is continuing efforts to obtain images of the munition remnants, noting that such evidence is crucial for determining responsibility.

The strike occurred on Saturday morning, the first day of the working and school week in Iran.

Videos geolocated by CNN show the school being hit at roughly the same time as the nearby base, with smoke rising from both the IRGC facility and the school building.

Satellite imagery from 2013 showed that the school and the IRGC base were once part of the same compound. However, images from 2016 showed a fence separating the school from the base and the construction of a separate entrance to the school.

Imagery from December 2025 showed dozens of people in the school courtyard, apparently playing on what appeared to be a ball court.

NR Jenzen-Jones, director of Armament Research Services, told CNN that the satellite imagery and videos "paint a picture of multiple simultaneous or near-simultaneous strikes" hitting both the IRGC compound and the school.

Initially, speculation circulated online suggesting that the explosion at the school might have been caused by misfiring Iranian air defence systems while the IRGC attempted to repel incoming air strikes.

However, Jenzen-Jones said that the explanation was unlikely. Recent imagery of the naval base showed significant damage to buildings, indicating they were struck by precision-guided munitions rather than air defence missiles that had malfunctioned.

"We're seeing targeted strikes that appear intended to disable those buildings. That's the most likely outcome," he said.

He also noted that military bases such as the one in Minab are often among the "pre-planned targets" during the opening stages of a conflict.

US officials have confirmed that the United States has struck military targets in southern Iran. In a briefing on Wednesday, Dan Caine presented a map showing American and Israeli strikes across Iran during the first 100 hours of the war.

He said Israeli forces largely targeted northern Iran, while the United States focused on strikes in the south.