Fragments of a missile reportedly recovered after a deadly strike in southern Iran may belong to a US-manufactured Tomahawk cruise missile, according to an analysis reported by CNN.
Iran’s state broadcaster Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting published several photographs on Telegram showing pieces of debris that officials claim were collected after an attack on the Shajareh Tayyiba elementary school in Minab on February 28. Iranian media reports say the incident resulted in the deaths of at least 168 children and 14 teachers.
The images show missile fragments placed on a table near the heavily damaged school building. However, independent verification has not confirmed whether the debris came directly from the school strike, from a nearby military target, or from another location in the area.
Experts reviewing the photographs say the fragments appear similar to parts from a Tomahawk cruise missile, a long-range precision-guided weapon used by the United States military. Analysts noted that at least one missile strike captured on video appeared to target a nearby naval installation connected to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
One of the recovered fragments reportedly contains the words “Made in USA” and references Globe Motors, a manufacturer based in Ohio that has previously received US Department of Defense contracts to produce missile components. Another piece is marked “SDL ANTENNA,” believed to refer to a satellite communication component used in modern Tomahawk missile systems. The part also appears to include the name of Ball Aerospace, a Colorado-based aerospace company that was acquired by BAE Systems in 2024.
Specialists comparing the debris with previously documented weapon fragments say the markings and structure closely resemble components cataloged in open-source databases that track remnants of missiles used in past conflicts.
Meanwhile, political debate around the incident continues. Former US President Donald Trump previously suggested that Iran itself possessed Tomahawk missiles, a claim that many weapons experts dispute. The White House has stated that the Pentagon is conducting a full investigation into the strike and is expected to release its findings.
The case has drawn international attention as analysts attempt to determine the exact origin of the missile and the circumstances surrounding the devastating attack.
