Bahrain Reports Arrest of 25 Individuals Linked to Iran

The Bahraini government has announced the arrest of 25 individuals in connection with what it describes as 'membership in an Iran-backed terrorist group.' Bahrain has repeatedly accused Iran of interfering in its internal affairs, a claim that Tehran has consistently denied. In a statement on March 5, the Bahraini government claimed that 'a group of 54 individuals' had traveled to Iran and Iraq to receive training at the bases of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The statement added that these individuals had been trained in the use of explosives and weapons. Bahraini police also reported seizing 'weapons, bombs, vehicles, boats, and a drone' from them. According to the Associated Press, the statement accused the arrested individuals and suspects of being involved in a series of attacks, including an assault and the escape of several prisoners from a facility near Manama earlier this year. The Bahraini government also claimed that the leader of this group was in Germany, but provided no further details on this matter. This is not the first time Bahrain has accused the Iranian government of interfering in its internal affairs. Likewise, it is not the first time the Manama government has reported arrests, detentions, or confrontations with individuals 'supported by Iran' or 'trained by the IRGC.' Iran has always rejected allegations of interference in Bahrain's internal affairs and described the training or equipping of Manama's opponents as 'baseless.' Tehran has not yet responded to this latest accusation. Bahrain is home to the U.S. Fifth Fleet headquarters. Since 2011, the country has been the scene of protests by predominantly Shia opponents against the governance of predominantly Sunni officials; protests that have sometimes turned violent. Both Bahrain and Iran have faced criticism from human rights groups regarding their handling of peaceful protests, dissenters, human rights violations, and freedom of expression. In the latest civil liberties and press freedom ranking by the non-governmental organization 'Freedom House,' both countries rank at the bottom. In this context, four Bahraini police officers were injured in a bomb explosion.