Bahrain's Interior Ministry announced the arrest of dozens of people accused of belonging to a group linked to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The ministry said in a statement on Saturday that 41 individuals were arrested and legal proceedings are underway.
The statement did not specify charges but said the arrests relate to earlier investigations into espionage and expressions of support for Iranian attacks during the war launched against Iran by Israel and the US in late February. Iran fired thousands of missiles and drones at Gulf neighbors, including Bahrain, causing significant damage to US military sites.
Bahrain has since cracked down on perceived pro-Iran support, warning that anyone glorifying or supporting Iranian attacks could face prosecution. In March, Bahraini authorities conducted several rounds of arrests against individuals allegedly spying for the IRGC. In late April, Bahrain stripped citizenship from 69 people accused of sympathizing with Iran and colluding with foreign entities. The London-based Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy called the move dangerous and a clear violation of international law.
The Interior Ministry said it would continue investigations into the alleged IRGC-linked group and take legal action against anyone found involved. Other regional countries have also ramped up investigations into alleged Iran-linked entities since the Middle East conflict erupted. On April 20, the UAE's State Security Service said it uncovered an Iran-linked group and arrested dozens of members, accusing them of pledging allegiance to foreign entities and harming national unity.
The UAE suffered more Iranian strikes than any other country during the war, though most were intercepted. A fragile US-Iran ceasefire agreed on April 8 remains in effect despite several days of clashes near the Strait of Hormuz. The US awaits a formal Iranian response to a proposal to end the war, though Trump has said he is ready to attack Iran at a higher level and intensity if no deal is reached.
Source: www.aljazeera.com