US-made missile parts found at Iran school strike, NYT analysis shows

An analysis of missile debris recovered from a devastated girls' school in southern Iran has revealed components consistent with American-made Tomahawk cruise missiles, according to a detailed investigation by The New York Times. The fragments, photographed by Iranian state media and shared on Telegram, show serial numbers and manufacturer labels matching US Defense Department supply systems, pointing to American origin for the Feb. 28 strike that killed at least 175 people, including 163 children at the Shajarah Tayyebeh elementary school in Minab .

The debris includes a component labeled "SDL ANTENNA," referring to a satellite data link used in newer Tomahawk variants, along with a contract identification number suggesting the part was procured for the US military in 2014. Another fragment bears the name of Globe Motors, an Ohio-based defense contractor that has received millions in Pentagon contracts to produce actuator motors for Tomahawk guidance systems. Similar components have previously been documented in Yemen and Syria, cataloged in weapons databases tracking munitions remnants from conflict zones .

Conflicting claims and weapons experts' assessments

The forensic evidence directly challenges statements by US President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly asserted without evidence that Iran struck its own school. During a Monday press conference, Trump claimed Iran "also has some Tomahawks" and described the missile as "very generic" and "sold to other countries." However, weapons experts note that Tomahawk cruise missiles are produced exclusively in the United States and have only been sold to close allies Australia and Britain, with Japan agreeing to purchase them in 2024 and the Netherlands in 2025. Iran remains under comprehensive US and EU embargoes imposed since 1979, making legal acquisition impossible.

Trevor Ball, a former US Army explosive ordnance disposal specialist collaborating with the investigative group Bellingcat, confirmed that the photographed components match Tomahawk debris documented from other strike sites in Iran since the conflict began. Even if Iran had somehow obtained such missiles, experts emphasize Tehran lacks the specialized launch systems and programming equipment required to deploy Tomahawks, which must be programmed with flight paths before launch using US military hardware .

Military confirmation and investigation

US Central Command has released footage showing Navy ships launching Tomahawk missiles toward Iran on Feb. 28, the same day the school was struck. Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, confirmed in Pentagon briefings that "the first shooters at sea were Tomahawks unleashed by the United States Navy" during operations along Iran's southern coastline. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has stated the Pentagon is investigating the incident, though he joined Trump in asserting that "the only side that targets civilians is Iran" .

The mounting evidence has drawn international concern, with UNICEF expressing alarm over child casualties and UNESCO describing attacks on educational facilities as potential grave violations of international humanitarian law. As the conflict continues, with more than 1,300 Iranians killed since Feb. 28, Türkiye closely monitors developments along its eastern border, where regional instability threatens to draw in neighboring states .