Wikipedia

Al-Ashtar Brigades

The al-Ashtar Brigades (Saraya al-Ashtar, named after Malik al-Ashtar[6]), or AAB for short, is the paramilitary branch of the Islamic Resistance in Bahrain, a Shiite militant group designated as a terrorist organization by the governments of Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, United States and Canada.[6]

Al-Ashtar Brigades
سرايا الأشتر
Dates of operation2012–present
Allegiance Iran (IRGC)[1]
Active regionsBahrain
IdeologyShia Islamism
Khomeinism
Anti-West
Part ofIslamic Resistance in Bahrain[2]
Allies Iran
 Hezbollah (claimed by Bahraini gov.)
Kata'ib Hezbollah (claimed by Bahraini gov.)[3]
Shia militias in Qatif
Houthi Movement Yemen
Opponents Bahrain
 United Arab Emirates[4]
 Saudi Arabia
 Israel
Battles and warsthe Shia insurgency in Bahrain
Israel–Hamas war
Designated as a terrorist group by

Terrorist designation

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Country Date Ref
  United Kingdom 22 December 2014 [7]
  Bahrain June 2017 [6]
  Egypt June 2017 [6]
  Saudi Arabia June 2017 [6]
  United Arab Emirates June 2017 [6]
  United States July 2018 [8]
  Canada 2019 [9]

In June 2017, the al-Ashtar Brigades were designated as terrorist organizations by Bahrain, Egypt, the UAE and Saudi Arabia.[6] The United States Department of State has designated the group as a terrorist organization, as of July 2018.[6][8] Canada classified the Brigades as a terrorist organization in 2019.[9]

In March 2024, the Department of State of the United States designated the organization as a terrorist organization, stating that the group wants to destabilize and threaten the security of Bahrain.[10]

Ideology

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The al-Ashtar Brigades has stated that it is loyal to the government of Iran, and has adopted branding consistent with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps.[11]

Attacks

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The group its suspect for over 20 attacks in Bahrain, primarily targeting police and security forces.[6]

The first attack of the group was on May 29 of 2013, when a remote-controlled explosive device which blasts near police officers that they were removing a barricades in the village of Bani Jamra, Northern Governorate. The attack wounds at least seven officers.[12][13] The authorities raised alarm bells over this attack, arresting ten militants the next day.[14] On July 17, a car bomb blasts Shaikh Eisa Bin Salman Mosque in Riffa, Southern Governorate. The attack only left material damage.[15] On the next month, a car bomb detonated in front a recreational area in Budaiya, Northern Governorate.[16]

The group was designated a terrorist organization by Bahrain after the 2014 Daih bombing.[17][9] Months later, on December 8, an improvised device blasts in Dumistan, Northern Governorate, killed a police officer.[18][19] In the next day, an improvised device blasts in Karzakan, Northern governorate, killing a civilian and wounding other.[20][21]

On January 31, 2015, a bomb blasts near a police patrol in Muqsha, wounding two officers.[22] Two months later, the group claimed an attack in the settlement of Karrana, Northern Governorate, which left two officers wounded.[23]

On January 14, 2017, after a pause of a year, members of Al-Ashtar Brigades attacked an officer in the village of Bani Jamra. The attack happens when authorities announces the execution of three militants.[24][25] On January 29, an off duty security officer was killed by an AAB attack in Manama.[9][26]

On May 2, 2024, the organization claimed to have launched a drone targeting the Israeli city of Eilat on April 27, targeting the headquarters of the company Trucknet "in support of the Palestinian cause and our resisting people in Gaza," during the Israel–Hamas war.[27]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Wess, Caleb (February 23, 2018). "Bahraini militant group adopts IRGC branding". Archived from the original on April 1, 2018. Retrieved February 26, 2018. At the same time, Saraya al Ashtar reaffirmed its loyalty to the Islamic Republic of Iran. "We believe that the commander and ruler of the Islamic religion is the line of the two imams, Khomeini and Khamenei, which is in the original Muhammad approach in confronting the oppressors and fighting back against the tyrants," the group's statement reads.
  2. ^ "Institute for the Study of War". Institute for the Study of War.
  3. ^ "'سرايا الأشتر'.. تنظيم شيعي مسلح يهدد البحرين". Archived from the original on 2018-02-18. Retrieved 2020-07-31.
  4. ^ "سرايا الأشتر". 24 February 2017. Archived from the original on 29 July 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  5. ^ "Currently listed entities". 21 December 2018. Archived from the original on 5 October 2016. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i Naar, Ismaeel (June 9, 2017). "Who are the al-Ashtar Brigades, latest Arab-designated 'terrorist group'?". Al Arabiya. Archived from the original on February 27, 2018. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
  7. ^ "من هم "سرايا الأشتر" و "سرايا المختار" من وجهة نظر بريطانيا". 23 December 2017. Archived from the original on 26 August 2018. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
  8. ^ a b "State Department Terrorist Designation of al-Ashtar Brigades (AAB)". U.S. State Department. 10 July 2018. Archived from the original on 15 September 2018. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  9. ^ a b c d Canada, Public Safety (2018-12-21). "Currently listed entities". www.publicsafety.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 2016-10-05. Retrieved 2022-05-10.
  10. ^ "Taking Coordinated Actions with Bahrain against Supporters of Al-Ashtar Brigades". United States Department of State. Retrieved 2024-03-28.
  11. ^ Wess, Caleb (February 23, 2018). "Bahraini militant group adopts IRGC branding". Archived from the original on April 1, 2018. Retrieved February 26, 2018. At the same time, Saraya al Ashtar reaffirmed its loyalty to the Islamic Republic of Iran. "We believe that the commander and ruler of the Islamic religion is the line of the two imams, Khomeini and Khamenei, which is in the original Muhammad approach in confronting the oppressors and fighting back against the tyrants," the group's statement reads.
  12. ^ "Bahrain police hurt in explosion near Manama". BBC News. Retrieved 2024-03-25.
  13. ^ "Explosion in Bahrain wounds several police". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-03-25.
  14. ^ "Seven Policemen Injured in Bahrain Bomb Attack; 10 Suspects Arrested". Impunity Watch. 31 May 2013. Retrieved 2024-03-25.
  15. ^ "Car bomb explodes outside mosque in Bahrain". Thomson Reuters Foundation. Retrieved 2024-03-25.
  16. ^ "GTD ID:201308030001". Global Terrorism Database. Retrieved 2024-03-25.
  17. ^ Saeed, Farishta; Bayoumy, Yara. Aboudi, Sami; Lyon, Alistair (eds.). "Bahrain puts groups on terrorism list after bomb kills three police". Reuters. Archived from the original on 2018-02-27. Retrieved 2018-02-26.
  18. ^ "Policeman killed in 'terrorist' attack in Bahrain: interior ministry". Reuters. Retrieved 2024-03-25.
  19. ^ "A man and a policeman killed by two bombs in different places of Bahrein". San Diego Union Tribune. 9 December 2014. Retrieved 2024-03-25.
  20. ^ "Explosions in Bahrain villages kill two". BBC News. 9 December 2014. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
  21. ^ "One killed in Bahrain blast, second bomb in two days". Reuters. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
  22. ^ "GTD ID:201501310049". Global Terrorism Database. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
  23. ^ "GTD ID:201503190028". Global Terrorism Database. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
  24. ^ "Terror group claims responsibility for Bani Jamra shooting". GFNonline. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
  25. ^ "Policeman Injured in Shooting as Authorities Intend to Execute 3 Death Row Detainees". Bahrain Mirror. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
  26. ^ "Bahrain police officer killed in attack claimed by militants". Associated Press. 29 January 2017. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
  27. ^ "Iranian proxy in Bahrain claims drone assault on Eilat - JNS.org".
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