US Accusations and Evidence of Involvement in Iran School Bombing

The bombing of a primary school in Minab, Iran, on February 28, resulted in the deaths of dozens of people, primarily girls aged seven to twelve. This attack represents the deadliest incident to date in the ongoing conflict involving the US and Israel against Iran, and has been condemned by UNESCO as a “serious violation” of international law.

Initial Accusations and Contradictions

On Saturday, US President Donald Trump asserted that Iran was responsible for the school bombing, stating, “In my opinion, based on what I’ve seen, Iran did that… They’re very inaccurate, as you know, with their munitions. They don’t have any precision. Iran did it.” Yet, the president did not provide any supporting evidence for this claim, and his statement has not been echoed by US Army spokesmen, who have only indicated they are “investigating” the bombing.

Mounting Evidence Pointing to US Involvement

Increasing evidence suggests the attack on Shajareh Tayyebeh Primary School was carried out by the United States. This evidence is detailed below.

Location and Context

The Shajareh Tayyebeh school was situated adjacent to a complex of buildings forming the naval barracks and support facilities of the local Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Verified videos from the bombing site, cross-referenced with satellite imagery, confirm the school’s location . While the school building had been separated from the barracks by a wall for at least nine years, visual indicators, including colorful murals and small sports fields, clearly identified it as an educational center.

There was no indication the school was a military building at the time of the attack. However, its proximity to the Revolutionary Guard facilities provides a plausible rationale for potential targeting by the United States or Israel.

Video Evidence

Several videos of the bombed school, verified by , have circulated on Iranian social media. At least four videos show the scene from different angles, featuring common elements like the school’s distinctive murals. One video depicts rubble from the destroyed school and smoke rising over the fence, originating from the adjacent Revolutionary Guard base, suggesting the bombing was part of a series of attacks targeting the Guard compound.

Satellite Imagery Analysis

Satellite images released on March 4 reveal the destroyed school building and four other damaged structures within the Revolutionary Guard complex.

Tomahawk Missile Identification

A video published by the Iranian state news agency Mehr on March 8, and geolocated by the Bellingcat research collective, shows a missile impacting a location in Minab. Bellingcat’s analysis, comparing buildings, water towers, trees, and roads in the video with satellite images, pinpointed the missile’s impact site within the Iranian Revolutionary Guard compound next to the school.

Munitions experts have identified the missile as a Tomahawk missile. NR Jenzen-Jones, director of Armament Research Services, stated, “Given the warring parties, that indicates this is a US attack, as Israel is not known to possess Tomahawk missiles.” The United States is the only nation involved in the conflict with Iran that utilizes this weapon.

US Military Operations in the Area

Although the United States has not explicitly admitted to attacking the school or barracks, it has acknowledged conducting attacks in the region. A Pentagon briefing on March 4 included a graphic indicating US and Israeli strike locations during Operation Epic Fury. While Minab was not explicitly marked on the map, one point representing a US/Israeli attack corresponds to Minab’s location. The graphic also highlighted areas where the US military reported “Iranian attacks,” none of which were in the Minab area.

Debunked Claims of Iranian Misfire

Following the bombing, social media accounts circulated claims that the school was hit by a failed Iranian missile. However, the photographs presented as evidence of this misfire were taken approximately 1,600 kilometers from Minab, in Zanjan, a city in northern Iran. The images depict snow-capped mountains, inconsistent with Minab’s warmer coastal climate. A dental clinic visible in the foreground of the alleged misfire image has been geolocated to Zanjan. President Trump has not referenced this image or provided further evidence of a misfire.