New Footage Appears to Show Cruise Missile Hitting Iranian School Compound

A newly surfaced video circulating online appears to show a cruise missile striking a compound in southern Iran where a deadly attack on a girls school recently killed dozens of students and staff.

The footage, released by Iranian state media, shows a missile slamming into a building within a walled complex moments after smoke can already be seen rising from another section of the compound where the school was located. Reports from authorities in Iran place the death toll from the bombing between roughly 165 and 180 people.

The short clip lasts only a few seconds but appears to capture the moment a missile hits a structure believed to be a medical clinic located within the same compound as the school. The clinic had been established in recent years inside a facility that was previously used by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard as a naval installation.

Experts who reviewed the footage say the missile appears consistent with the type of long range cruise missiles commonly used by the United States military. The weapon’s flight characteristics and impact pattern resemble a Tomahawk missile, which is widely deployed by US naval forces.

US military officials have acknowledged that cruise missiles were used during early stages of operations in southern Iran. However, authorities have not confirmed whether the strike shown in the video is linked to US military activity. Officials say the incident remains under investigation.

Political leaders in Washington have suggested that Iran itself may bear responsibility for the destruction at the school, arguing that Iranian weapons are known to be less precise. The conflicting claims have added to uncertainty over exactly what happened during the strike.

Independent analysts have examined the video and attempted to determine where it was filmed. Investigators studying the footage identified distinctive landmarks and construction features that match a housing development located across the street from the compound. This helped confirm the location of the impact site.

Additional satellite images reviewed by analysts show that several structures inside the complex were damaged or destroyed during the strike. In total, at least seven buildings appear to have been hit.

Historical satellite imagery suggests the compound previously served as a military base connected to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. Years ago the facility included a small airfield where military drones were reportedly tested.

However, activity at the base appeared to decline in later years. The airstrip was removed in recent years and nearby land began to be redeveloped for housing projects.

Satellite data also indicates that a wall separating the girls school from the rest of the compound was built several years ago. The clinic located within the complex was opened more recently, according to local reports at the time.

The new video adds another layer of complexity to the investigation into the deadly strike. Military officials and analysts are continuing to review evidence to determine whether the attack resulted from inaccurate targeting, outdated intelligence or other factors.

The incident has drawn widespread international attention due to the large number of casualties reported at the school. Questions surrounding responsibility for the strike remain unresolved as authorities continue examining the available evidence.