Mar 9, 2026
Bahrain grapples civil unrest as pro-Iran demonstrations challenge the monarchy’s alignment with US
ISLAMABAD: Violent clashes have erupted in Bahrain between pro-Iran demonstrators and security forces, fueled by recent Iranian missile and drone strikes on US military installations in the kingdom.
The unrest intensified following Iran’s retaliatory attacks on February 28, 2026, targeting the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet headquarters in Manama and other sites, including radar systems and energy infrastructure.
Protesters, largely from the Shia-majority population, have taken to the streets in several cities and villages, chanting slogans in solidarity with Iran and condemning the Bahraini government’s support for US and Israeli actions in the ongoing regional conflict.
Reports from multiple sources indicate that demonstrations began hours after the confirmed assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei by US and Israeli forces, triggering angry but initially peaceful marches.
Footage circulating on social media shows crowds marching through narrow streets, with some areas witnessing confrontations involving tear gas, arrests, and alleged use of Molotov cocktails by protesters.
Bahraini authorities have responded with a heavy security presence, banning public gatherings in streets and open squares to maintain order amid heightened regional threats.
The Interior Ministry has detained individuals accused of threatening public security, while clashes have been reported particularly on Sitra Island and in Shia-dominated neighborhoods.
Human rights organizations have documented ongoing restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly in Bahrain, with authorities continuing to suppress dissent linked to the 2011 pro-democracy uprising.
The Shia community, estimated at 55-65 percent of the citizen population according to independent assessments, has long voiced grievances over political and economic marginalization under the Sunni-led monarchy.
Recent protests appear tied to broader anti-US sentiment, with some demonstrators cheering Iranian strikes on American bases as a form of resistance against perceived foreign hegemony.
Bahrain hosts the US Fifth Fleet, a key strategic asset for Washington in the Persian Gulf, making the kingdom a focal point in the escalating Iran-US-Israel confrontation.
Iranian strikes have caused limited damage, including fires at the Bapco Energies refinery and impacts on desalination facilities, though Bahraini officials report successful interceptions of many projectiles.
The government has condemned the attacks as violations of sovereignty and international law, vowing self-defense while calling for dialogue.
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