Evidence is mounting that a U.S.-made Tomahawk missile was used in the strike that destroyed a primary school in Minab, Iran, on February 28, resulting in the deaths of at least 175 people, most of them schoolgirls. Photographs circulating online and analyzed by CNN appear to show fragments of a Tomahawk cruise missile recovered from the site of the Shajareh Tayyiba school, adding to a growing body of evidence contradicting claims by President Donald Trump that Iran was responsible for the attack.
The discovery of the missile debris comes as the Pentagon announced it will release its investigation into the strike, according to the White House. The incident has sparked international outrage and raised serious questions about civilian casualties in the ongoing conflict. The mounting evidence challenges the Trump administration’s narrative, which initially blamed Iran for the bombing and has continued to deflect responsibility.
Four photographs of the fragments were shared on Telegram by Iran’s state broadcaster, IRIB, with a caption stating they were remnants from the strike on the school. While it remains unconfirmed whether the fragments originated specifically from the school strike or from a simultaneous strike on a nearby Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) naval base, experts have identified components consistent with a U.S.-made Tomahawk missile. The analysis of the debris adds weight to reports that the U.S. Was likely responsible for the deadly strike.
Tomahawk Missile Components Identified
CNN’s analysis of the photographs revealed several key components consistent with a Tomahawk missile. One fragment is marked “Made in USA” and identified as being manufactured by Globe Motors, an Ohio-based company that has received millions of dollars in Department of Defense contracts for missile components, most recently in 2025. Another fragment is labeled “SDL ANTENNA,” a satellite data link antenna used in newer Tomahawk variants, and bears the imprint of Colorado-based Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp., acquired by BAE Systems in 2024.
These findings align with imagery archived on the Open Source Munitions Portal, a database of weapon fragments recovered from past conflicts. A component with Globe Motors branding was previously recovered from a strike in Yemen last year. Markus Schiller, a rocket expert and associate senior researcher at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, identified a fragment as a Globe Motors actuator motor, confirming its consistency with a Tomahawk missile. Actuators control the fins of a missile, enabling its flight path.
Trevor Ball, a former U.S. Army explosive ordnance disposal team member now with Bellingcat, also assessed the fragments as part of a Tomahawk missile, though he cautioned that determining their exact provenance from the images alone is impossible.
Video Evidence and Conflicting Accounts
The analysis of the missile fragments follows the emergence of video footage on Sunday appearing to show an American BGM or UGM-109 Tomahawk Land Attack Missile (TLAM) striking the IRGC naval base adjacent to the school. The video, posted by Iranian news agency Mehr News, showed a large plume of smoke rising from the direction of the elementary school. The Defense Department had previously released videos of U.S. Navy warships firing Tomahawks towards Iran on the same day as the school strike.
President Trump initially blamed Iran for the school bombing, claiming, “based on what I’ve seen,” that Iran was responsible. He further asserted, without evidence, that Iran possessed Tomahawk missiles, a claim disputed by munitions experts. Even Israel, a close U.S. Ally, does not possess Tomahawk missiles, and experts confirm Iran does not either. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth declined to confirm Trump’s claim, stating the U.S. Was still investigating.
Wes Bryant, a former adviser on precision warfare and civilian harm mitigation at the Pentagon’s Civilian Protection Center, described striking a school with a weapon like a Tomahawk as “a troubling departure from foundational US targeting doctrine and practices.” He added that the event “is indicative of a recklessly planned and executed campaign in which attention to precision and the legal and moral obligations to protect civilians clearly took a backseat.”
What’s Next
The Pentagon’s upcoming investigation is expected to provide further clarity on the circumstances surrounding the strike and the extent of U.S. Involvement. The release of the investigation findings will likely be closely scrutinized by international observers and could have significant implications for the ongoing conflict. The focus will be on determining whether the strike adhered to established rules of engagement and whether sufficient precautions were taken to minimize civilian casualties.
This is a developing story, and we will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available. Share your thoughts in the comments below.
