A video verified by The New York Times shows ballistic missiles being launched from Bahrain toward Iran, marking what appears to be the first confirmed attack on the Islamic Republic originating from a Persian Gulf country since the war began. The footage, posted on social media on March 7, shows two missiles firing northeast over the sea from a residential area near Bahrain's capital.

Defense experts identified at least one missile launched from American-made M142 HIMARS equipment, though it remains unclear whether U.S. or Bahraini forces fired the weapons. Bahrain is home to the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet, and the American military has confirmed using HIMARS in its operations against Iran. The U.S. State Department approved selling four HIMARS launchers to Bahrain in August 2025, though deliveries typically take years.

Iran has launched over 100 missiles and 191 drones at Bahrain in recent weeks, killing at least one civilian and damaging infrastructure including an oil refinery and water desalination plant. While Bahrain's government denies participating in offensive operations, the video raises questions about whether it allowed U.S. forces to conduct attacks from its territory. The kingdom's unique position as a Sunni-ruled nation with a Shiite majority, combined with its close military ties to the United States, makes it particularly vulnerable to Iranian retaliation.