U.S. Tomahawk Hits Iranian School; Video Contradicts President Trump

A seven‑second video released by Iranian state media and geolocated by researchers appears to show a cruise missile striking a compound that included a girls' school, with Iranian outlets and officials reporting between about 165 and 180 killed.

“The short video appeared to be authentic”

NPR

NPR reported that “A new video released by Iranian state media shows what appears to be a U.S. cruise missile striking a compound where around 175 Iranian students and staff were killed at a girls school a little over a week ago.”

NPR

Republic World said Trump “faced backlash after implying a Tomahawk missile may have struck a girls' school in Iran’s Minab city, killing 165.”

PBS noted the wider reporting that “Iranian media reported the air assault killed 175 people at the school, many of them children.”

President Donald Trump publicly declined to accept or assign responsibility, saying he had not seen the evidence and suggesting the American-made Tomahawk is “sold and used by other countries,” which prompted immediate scrutiny.

Republic World quoted him: “Well, I haven’t seen it,” Trump said, adding that the Tomahawk missile “is used by, you know, sold and used by other countries”.

PBS News

PBS published the press-exchange in full, recording Trump saying “Well, I haven't seen it, and I will say that the Tomahawk, which is one of the most powerful weapons around is … sold and used by other countries.”

NPR noted authorities had been reticent to comment while investigations continued: “Central Command declined to comment to NPR, citing an ongoing investigation into the incident.”

Security experts and analysts cited in coverage say the footage is consistent with a Tomahawk but stress that Iran does not itself possess those missiles, creating a factual tension between the visual evidence and the president’s suggestion that other actors could have fired it.

“Updated 10 March 2026 at 09:27 IST Trump’s Tomahawk Lies Fact-Checked & Exposed”

Republic World

NPR reported that “Although the quality of the video makes precisely identifying the munition difficult, the missile appears consistent with a Tomahawk cruise missile, according to Jeffrey Lewis.”

PBS quotes analysts disputing Iranian ownership: “Tehran does not have Tomahawks, and Iranian cruise missiles are visually distinct," Lewis said, and PolitiFact noted that "The only other countries using Tomahawks are Japan, the United Kingdom, Australia and the Netherlands," cited Mark F. Cancian.

Republic World conveyed the president’s line that the matter “is still under investigation,” which highlights the official uncertainty despite expert statements on capability.

Reporters publicly challenged Trump during the exchange, saying he was the only official in his administration raising the possibility Iran fired a Tomahawk at its own school; independent verification efforts such as geolocation have tried to corroborate the clips.

PBS recorded a reporter saying: “Mr. President, you just suggested that Iran somehow got its hands on a Tomahawk and bombed its own elementary school on the first day of the war. But you're the only person in your government saying this.”

The New York Times

Republic World summarized the pushback: “A reporter then challenged the president’s claim, noting that Trump appeared to be the only official in his administration publicly suggesting Iran could have carried out the strike itself.”

NPR noted verification work: “The video was first geolocated by the online research group Bellingcat.”

Official responses and independent verification efforts remained limited as investigations continued, leaving key questions unresolved.

“The short video appeared to be authentic”

NPR

NPR reported that “Central Command declined to comment to NPR, citing an ongoing investigation into the incident.”

NPR

PBS recorded that “The White House did not respond to inquiries for this article.”

Republic World likewise noted the situation “was still under investigation,” underscoring that provenance and responsibility had not been conclusively established in the coverage examined.