Bahrain Reports Discovery of 'Terrorist' Organization Linked to IRGC

The Bahraini Ministry of Interior announced in a statement the discovery of a 'terrorist' organization linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran and Hezbollah, along with the arrest of several of its members. The statement, published on Wednesday, January 6, accuses the members of this organization, named 'Al-Basita Group', of 'planning a series of terrorist explosions' in the country. It mentions that six members of this group have been arrested and investigations are ongoing to identify and apprehend other members. According to the Ministry's statement, two of the founders and members of the discovered organization are affiliated with the 'Islamic Loyalty Movement', a group formed by some Bahraini Shia activists in the context of protests against the ruling regime. The statement also claims that some of the arrested members of 'Al-Basita Group' were connected to the 'Ashtar Brigades', which was designated as a 'terrorist group' by the Bahraini government about two years ago, with several of its members being prosecuted. Additionally, some of those arrested were involved in the explosion on July 27, 2015, in the Al-Sitra area of Bahrain, which resulted in the deaths of two police officers and injuries to six others. The Ministry's statement alleges that one member of 'Al-Basita Group' traveled to Iran in 2011 to receive material, spiritual, and logistical support for operations in Bahrain. It states that one arrested suspect met with several Bahrainis residing in Iran who were connected to the IRGC and Hezbollah and managed to receive assistance in this regard. The statement also names two Bahrainis living in Iran and claims that the suspects found a 'safe way' to receive money through them, including 'using individuals returning from religious pilgrimages in Iran'. The Bahraini Ministry of Interior also claims that three of the suspects traveled to Beirut, Lebanon, in 2012 and met with Hassan Nasrallah, the Secretary-General of Hezbollah, and his deputy, Naeem Qassem. During this meeting, the suspects made proposals, requested assistance, and received $20,000. The Bahraini government recognizes Hezbollah as a terrorist organization. This is not the first time Bahrain has reported the discovery of a 'terrorist organization' linked to Iran. Last year, the Bahraini government announced that it had uncovered a 'terrorist organization' supported by Iran, leading to the recall of its ambassador from Tehran and the expulsion of the Iranian chargé d'affaires from Manama. On Monday, January 4, Bahrain severed its relations with Iran in protest against the attack on the Saudi embassy in Tehran, an action that Saudi Arabia had taken a day earlier. Since 2010, Bahrain has witnessed unrest related to the uprisings in some Arab countries. That year, Bahraini Shia protesters called for reforms to the ruling system. Bahraini security forces managed to end these protests, but sporadic clashes between protesters and security forces continue to occur in Shia-majority areas. Bahrain accuses Iran of inciting Shia dissent, a claim that Iranian officials deny despite their political support for Bahraini protesters.