New photographic, video and forensic evidence emerging from southern Iran suggests the tragic airstrike that destroyed the Shajareh Tayyebeh girls’ primary school in Minab on February 28, 2026, was likely caused by a U.S.‑made Tomahawk cruise missile, according to analysis by CNN and multiple independent media outlets.
The devastating strike — which Iranian authorities say killed between 168 and 180 people, most of them schoolgirls aged 7–12 — occurred during the opening wave of the 2026 Iran–U.S./Israeli war.
What the Evidence Shows
Iranian state media published photos of debris they claim was recovered near the school site. A CNN review of these images concludes that the fragments appear consistent with parts from an American Tomahawk cruise missile, a weapon system that neither Iran nor Israel is known to possess in this conflict.
The missiles shown in these images carry markings similar to those used by U.S. Defense Department suppliers, including identifiable serial numbers and labels — a detail confirmed by The New York Times and displayed in photos shared on Iranian messaging channels.
Meanwhile, verified video footage released by Iran’s state media and geolocated by open‑source investigators shows a missile flying toward and striking a nearby Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) naval compound just before plumes of smoke rise from the direction of the school. This pattern suggests that the school was hit in the course of a precision strike alongside adjacent military targets.
Crucially, independent weapons analysts and geolocation specialists, including those at Bellingcat and the New York Times, have identified the missile in the footage as a Tomahawk cruise missile — a long‑range guided weapon used primarily by the U.S. military.
Political Reactions and Conflicting Statements
In the immediate aftermath, U.S. President Donald Trump initially blamed Iran for the explosion, claiming Iranian munitions are “very inaccurate.” However, pressed by reporters, he later acknowledged that he did not have enough information and that the incident was under investigation.
The U.S. Department of Defense has stated that American forces conducted strikes in the region as part of Operation Epic Fury, which targeted Iranian military facilities early in the conflict. However, officials have not publicly acknowledged striking the school itself.
Iranian authorities, meanwhile, have vehemently condemned the attack, characterizing it as an act of American and “Zionist” aggression. President Masoud Pezeshkian vowed that “this will never be erased from our historical memory,” and Iran’s United Nations ambassador urged international action through the UN Security Council.
Was the School a Military Target?
One contested point has been whether the school was within or part of a military compound. Historical satellite imagery confirms that the school was constructed inside a former IRGC base area, but it had been entirely walled off and functioning as a civilian facility for nearly a decade before the attack.
Human Rights Watch, after reviewing videos, photographs and satellite imagery, found no evidence that the Shajareh Tayyebeh school was used for military purposes. Its researchers emphasized that the school had a separate entrance and was clearly distinguishable from the adjacent naval compound.
Under international humanitarian law, schools and other civilian institutions are protected from attack unless they are used for military action — a principle human rights organizations argue appears to have been violated.
International Response and War Crime Allegations
The devastating strike has drawn global condemnation. UNESCO described it as a “grave violation of humanitarian law”, while the United Nations called for a prompt, independent and thorough investigation to determine responsibility. Human rights groups such as Human Rights Watch have called for accountability and possible prosecution if the attack is determined to be unlawful.
U.S. lawmakers have also reacted. Some senators have labeled the incident “appalling” and demanded a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the school strike, highlighting the tragic loss of young lives.
Conclusion
While investigations continue, a growing body of evidence points to a U.S. Tomahawk missile as the source of the devastating airstrike that destroyed the Shajareh Tayyebeh girls’ school. Photographic debris, geolocated video footage, expert analysis and satellite imagery all contribute to this assessment — a narrative that sharply contradicts initial claims by U.S. officials and has profound implications for how this tragic event is understood globally.
The incident remains under official investigation, but it has already reshaped international discussions about civilian protection in modern conflicts and underscored the urgent need for transparent accountability in war.
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