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Contains upsetting scenes.
Strike details emerge
A US Tomahawk cruise missile struck a military installation adjacent to a primary school in southern Iran, killing 168 people, including approximately 110 children, according to Iranian authorities and verified video analysis.
Footage released by Iran's semi-official Mehr news agency and authenticated by BBC Verify shows the moment a missile hit an Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) base next to Shajareh Tayebeh primary school in Minab. Experts who reviewed the video identified the weapon as a Tomahawk, a long-range missile exclusive to the US arsenal.
Expert assessments
Three independent analysts confirmed the munition in the video as a US Tomahawk missile. A senior analyst at McKenzie Intelligence Services stated the weapon displayed "all the hallmarks of a US Tomahawk in its terminal phase." Wes Bryant, a former US Air Force officer and national security analyst, agreed, adding that the pattern of multiple strikes on the IRGC compound suggested a "deliberate and precise" US operation.
N R Jenzen Jones, director of Armament Research Services, previously told BBC Verify that Iranian missiles, which carry smaller warheads, were unlikely to cause the extensive damage observed at the school.
US and Israeli responses
US President Donald Trump blamed Iran for the attack during a press briefing aboard Air Force One on Saturday. "We think it was done by Iran because they're very inaccurate with their munitions," he said. However, a preliminary US assessment reported by CBS News suggested the US was "likely" responsible but did not intentionally target the school, possibly hitting it in error.
An Israeli government source denied involvement, stating Israel's military was not operating near the school. Neither the US nor Israel has publicly confirmed or denied responsibility for the strike.
Timeline and impact
BBC Verify's analysis indicates the school was struck around the same time as other buildings in the adjacent IRGC complex. The verified video shows smoke plumes near the school before the Tomahawk missile detonates at a medical clinic approximately 200 meters (650 feet) away, which Iranian media reports belonged to the IRGC navy.
On March 2, Gen. Dan Caine, the US military's top officer, confirmed that Tomahawks were among the first missiles fired at Iran by the US Navy as part of "strikes across the southern flank." A Department of Defense map released on March 4 shows the Minab area was targeted within the first 100 hours of the conflict.
Verification challenges
An ongoing internet blackout in Iran and restrictions on international journalists have hindered independent verification of the incident. The BBC has sought comment from the US government regarding the experts' assessment of the video but has not received a response.
