Al-Ashtar Brigades Explained

Al-Ashtar Brigades
Native Name:سرايا الأشتر
Native Name Lang:ar
War:the Shia insurgency in Bahrain
Israel–Hamas war
Active:2012–present
Ideology:Khomeinism
Shia Islamism
Anti-West
Area:Bahrain
Partof:Islamic Resistance in Bahrain[1]
Allies: (claimed by Bahraini gov.)
(claimed by Bahraini gov.)
Kata'ib Hezbollah(claimed by Bahraini gov.)[2]
Shia militias in Qatif
Houthi Movement Yemen
Opponents: Bahrain
[3]
Saudi Arabia
Israel

The al-Ashtar Brigades (Saraya al-Ashtar, named after Malik al-Ashtar), 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.[4]

Terrorist designation

CountryDateRef
22 December 2014[5]
BahrainJune 2017
EgyptJune 2017
Saudi ArabiaJune 2017
June 2017
United StatesJuly 2018[6]
Canada2019[7]
In June 2017, the al-Ashtar Brigades were designated as terrorist organizations by Bahrain, Egypt, the UAE and Saudi Arabia.[4] The United States Department of State has designated the group as a terrorist organization, as of July 2018.[4] [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

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

The group its suspect for over 20 attacks in Bahrain, primarily targeting police and security forces.[4]

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] 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 a 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.[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

Notes and References

  1. https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/iran-update-may-2-2024
  2. Web site: 'سرايا الأشتر'.. تنظيم شيعي مسلح يهدد البحرين. 2020-07-31. 2018-02-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20180218184859/http://www.islamist-movements.com/30568. live.
  3. Web site: سرايا الأشتر. 24 February 2017. 20 August 2020. 29 July 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180729000439/http://www.al-abdal.net/776/. live.
  4. News: Who are the al-Ashtar Brigades, latest Arab-designated 'terrorist group'? . . Ismaeel . Naar . June 9, 2017 . February 26, 2018 . February 27, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180227034806/https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/gulf/2017/03/18/US-places-Bahrainis-backed-by-Iran-on-terrorist-list-imposes-sanctions.html . live .
  5. Web site: من هم "سرايا الأشتر" و "سرايا المختار" من وجهة نظر بريطانيا. 23 December 2017. 26 August 2018. 26 August 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180826150102/http://www.al-abdal.net/3049/. live.
  6. News: State Department Terrorist Designation of al-Ashtar Brigades (AAB) . . 10 July 2018 . 15 September 2018 . 15 September 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180915084640/https://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2018/07/283939.htm . live .
  7. Web site: Canada . Public Safety . 2018-12-21 . Currently listed entities . 2022-05-10 . www.publicsafety.gc.ca . 2016-10-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161005193024/https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/ntnl-scrt/cntr-trrrsm/lstd-ntts/crrnt-lstd-ntts-en.aspx#56 . live .
  8. News: State Department Terrorist Designation of al-Ashtar Brigades (AAB) . . 10 July 2018 . 15 September 2018 . 15 September 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180915084640/https://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2018/07/283939.htm . live .
  9. Web site: Canada . Public Safety . 2018-12-21 . Currently listed entities . 2022-05-10 . www.publicsafety.gc.ca . 2016-10-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161005193024/https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/ntnl-scrt/cntr-trrrsm/lstd-ntts/crrnt-lstd-ntts-en.aspx#56 . live .
  10. Web site: Taking Coordinated Actions with Bahrain against Supporters of Al-Ashtar Brigades. United States Department of State. 2024-03-28.
  11. News: Bahraini militant group adopts IRGC branding . 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. . Caleb . Wess . February 23, 2018 . February 26, 2018 . April 1, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180401151842/https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2018/02/bahraini-militant-group-adopts-irgc-branding.php . live .
  12. News: Bahrain police hurt in explosion near Manama. BBC News. 2024-03-25.
  13. News: Explosion in Bahrain wounds several police. Al Jazeera. 2024-03-25.
  14. Web site: Seven Policemen Injured in Bahrain Bomb Attack; 10 Suspects Arrested. Impunity Watch. 2024-03-25.
  15. Web site: Car bomb explodes outside mosque in Bahrain. Thomson Reuters Foundation. 2024-03-25.
  16. Web site: GTD ID:201308030001. Global Terrorism Database. 2024-03-25.
  17. News: Bahrain puts groups on terrorism list after bomb kills three police . Farishta . Saeed . Yara . Bayoumy . Sami . Aboudi . Alistair . Lyon . 2018-02-26 . 2018-02-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180227035623/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-bahrain-unrest/bahrain-puts-groups-on-terrorism-list-after-bomb-kills-three-police-idUSBREA231FC20140304 . live .
  18. Web site: Policeman killed in 'terrorist' attack in Bahrain: interior ministry. Reuters. 2024-03-25.
  19. Web site: A man and a policeman killed by two bombs in different places of Bahrein. San Diego Union Tribune. 2024-03-25.
  20. Web site: Explosions in Bahrain villages kill two. BBC News. 2024-03-26.
  21. Web site: One killed in Bahrain blast, second bomb in two days. Reuters. 2024-03-26.
  22. Web site: GTD ID:201501310049. Global Terrorism Database. 2024-03-26.
  23. Web site: GTD ID:201503190028. Global Terrorism Database. 2024-03-26.
  24. Web site: Terror group claims responsibility for Bani Jamra shooting. GFNonline. 2024-03-26.
  25. Web site: Policeman Injured in Shooting as Authorities Intend to Execute 3 Death Row Detainees. Bahrain Mirroraccessdate=2024-03-26.
  26. Web site: Bahrain police officer killed in attack claimed by militants. AP News. 2024-03-26.
  27. https://www.jns.org/iranian-proxy-in-bahrain-claims-drone-assault-on-eilat/

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