Trump says Iran has Tomahawk missiles in its arsenal as investigation into strike continues

WASHINGTON

US President Donald Trump claimed Monday that Iran has Tomahawk cruise missiles in its arsenal as the munition becomes a key piece of evidence in an airstrike on an Iranian girls’ school that killed nearly 200 people.

"The Tomahawk, which is one of the most powerful weapons around, is used by, you know, is sold and used by countries," Trump told reporters at a press conference in Florida.

"And whether it's Iran, who also has some Tomahawks -- they wish they had more -- but whether it's Iran or somebody else, the fact is that a Tomahawk is very generic. It's sold to other countries, but that's being investigated right now," he added.

Trump was likely referring to an ongoing Pentagon investigation into the strike.

Asked why he suggested that Iran has Tomahawks, Trump said: "It's something that I was told is under investigation, but Tomahawks are used by others."

"As you know, numerous other nations have Tomahawks. They buy them from us. But I will certainly, whatever the report shows, I'm willing to live with that report," he added, referring to the report that will be the capstone of the Pentagon's probe.

Multiple US media outlets reported on a newly released video Sunday that shows what appears to be a Tomahawk missile striking a naval base beside an elementary school in southern Iran where 175 people — many of them children — were reported killed.

The footage shows a missile hitting a facility inside a naval base operated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in the southern Iranian town of Minab on Feb. 28.

Analysis by The New York Times, based on satellite imagery, social media posts and additional verified videos, indicates that the Shajareh Tayyebeh Elementary School building was severely damaged by a precision strike that occurred around the same time as attacks on the adjacent IRGC naval base.

The video shows the missile striking a building described as a medical clinic inside the base, sending plumes of smoke and debris into the air.

As the camera pans across the area, large clouds of dust and smoke are already rising from the vicinity of the school, suggesting it had been struck shortly before the impact on the naval facility.

The US military is the only force involved in the conflict known to use Tomahawk cruise missiles.

A preliminary US intelligence assessment indicated that the US military is "likely" responsible for the strike on the group, CBS News reported Monday, based on anonymous sources who were briefed on the findings.

The assessment suggests the school was not intentionally targeted and may have been struck by mistake, possibly due to outdated intelligence that identified the area as still part of a military base, a source told CBS News.

Two sources told the outlet that Israel's military was not operating in the area at the time, a finding corroborated by an Israeli government source who told CBS that Israel had no involvement.