A Shiite Muslim militia based in Bahrain, known as the Al-Ashtar Brigades, has claimed its first-ever attack on Israel, targeting the headquarters of an Israeli company in the city of Eilat. The attack was conducted in support of the Palestinian cause and as a show of solidarity with the people of Gaza who are resisting Israeli aggression. The group is aligned with the Axis of Resistance coalition, which includes Hezbollah, Islamic Resistance in Iraq, and the Houthi movement in Yemen. The Al-Ashtar Brigades have been accused of being backed by Iran and have carried out attacks in Bahrain targeting security personnel in the past.
The presence of Shiite Muslim militias like the Al-Ashtar Brigades has raised security concerns in the region, particularly for the monarchies of the Arabian Peninsula and the United States, which has key bases in the area. Bahrain, home to the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet, has taken action against Iran-linked operatives associated with the Al-Ashtar Brigades, designating them as a terrorist organization and imposing sanctions. The U.S. has vowed to continue targeting individuals and financial sources linked to the group in order to combat destabilizing forces originating from Iran.
Bahrain is one of four nations that established ties with Israel through the Abraham Accords process, a move that has generated backlash from opposition groups within the country. Critics of the Israeli government have accused it of committing war crimes in the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The Al-Ashtar Brigades is not the only group from the Arabian Peninsula to have claimed attacks on Israel, with other organizations like SWAT Arabian Island and Alwiyat Al-Waad al-Haq also carrying out drone strikes on Israeli territory.
In a statement made earlier this year, a spokesperson for Kataib Hezbollah suggested that Bahrain and other Arabian Peninsula countries would see increased Axis of Resistance activities in the future. The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has created a tense environment, with various militant groups expressing their support for Palestinians in Gaza and taking action against countries aligned with Israel. The situation is fluid, and more details are expected to emerge as the story develops. Newsweek is committed to providing in-depth coverage and challenging conventional wisdom to find common ground in a complex geopolitical landscape.
