US missile hit military base near Iran school, video analysis shows
Source: Hacker News
US Tomahawk missile hits military base near Iranian school
A US Tomahawk missile struck an Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) base adjacent to the Shajareh Tayebeh primary school in Minab, southern Iran. Iranian authorities reported that 168 people were killed, including around 110 children.
BBC Verify has authenticated a video released by Iran’s semi‑official Mehr news agency that shows the missile moments before impact. The footage, first analysed by the open‑source investigation group Bellingcat, displays a Tomahawk missile and evidence of multiple strikes on the IRGC complex, indicating a US operation. Neither Israel nor Iran is known to possess Tomahawk missiles.
Video evidence
The verified video shows large smoke plumes near the school before the Tomahawk becomes visible, suggesting the school was hit prior to the missile’s detonation in the military base. BBC Verify’s analysis identifies a medical clinic—reported by Iranian media as belonging to the IRGC navy—approximately 200 m (650 ft) from the school as the likely impact point.
US and Israeli responses
- US: A preliminary assessment by the US, reported by CBS, suggests the attack was “likely” carried out by the United States but was not intended to target the school and may have been an error. The US Department of Defence later released an illustrative map showing Minab among the locations struck in the first 100 hours of the conflict.
- Israel: An Israeli government source told CBS News that Israel was not behind the attack and its military was not operating near the school.
- Iran: Iranian officials have blamed both the US and Israel for the strike. Neither the US nor Israel has publicly accepted or denied responsibility.
Expert analysis
- Mackenzie Intelligence Services: A senior analyst identified the munition as a US Tomahawk in its terminal phase, noting the missile’s hallmarks.
- Wes Bryant (national‑security analyst, former US Air Force): Confirmed the weapon as a Tomahawk and described the multiple strikes on the IRGC compound as indicative of a deliberate and precise US operation.
- N R Jenzen Jones (director, Armament Research Services): Stated that an Iranian missile is unlikely to have caused the extensive blast damage at the school because Iranian missiles carry relatively small warheads.
- Gen. Dan Caine (US Navy senior officer): On 2 March, said Tomahawks were the first missiles fired at Iran by the US Navy as part of “strikes across the southern flank”.
Visual evidence
Context and verification
An ongoing internet blackout in Iran hampers independent verification of the incident. Restrictions on international journalists further limit reliable reporting from the region, making it difficult to confirm all details of the Minab strike on 28 February. The BBC has requested comment from the US government regarding the expert assessments of the newly released video.