The factual accuracy of part of this article is disputed. The dispute is about Group’s ideology. It can’t be “pro-Shirazi” while allegedly claiming allegiance to IRGC (pro-Khamene’i), as the Shirazis are no friends of Khamenei. Please help to ensure that disputed statements are reliably sourced. See the relevant discussion on the talk page. (August 2020) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)
Al-Ashtar Brigades
سرايا الأشتر
Active regionsBahrain
IdeologyKhomeinism
Shia Islamism
Anti-West
Allies Iran (claimed by Bahraini gov.)
 Hezbollah (claimed by Bahraini gov.)
Kata'ib Hezbollah (claimed by Bahraini gov.)[1]
Shia militias in Qatif
Opponents Bahrain
 United Arab Emirates[2]
 Saudi Arabia
Battles and warsthe Shia insurgency in Bahrain
Designated as a terrorist group by

The al-Ashtar Brigades (Saraya al-Ashtar, named after Malik al-Ashtar[4]), or AAB for short, is a Shiite militant group in Bahrain designated as a terrorist organization by the governments of Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, United States and Canada.[4]

Terrorist designation

Country Date Ref
 United Kingdom 22 December 2014 [5]

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][6] Canada classified the Brigades as a terrorist organization in 2019.[7]

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.[8]

Attacks

The group has reportedly claimed responsibility for over 20 attacks in Bahrain, primarily targeting police and security forces.[4]

The group was designated a terrorist organization by Bahrain after the 2014 Daih bombing.[9][7]

In 2017, a security officer was killed by an AAB attack in Manama.[7]

See also

References

  1. ^ "'سرايا الأشتر'.. تنظيم شيعي مسلح يهدد البحرين". Archived from the original on 2018-02-18. Retrieved 2020-07-31.
  2. ^ "سرايا الأشتر". 24 February 2017. Archived from the original on 29 July 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  3. ^ "Currently listed entities". 21 December 2018. Archived from the original on 5 October 2016. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d e 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.
  5. ^ "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.
  6. ^ "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.
  7. ^ a b c 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.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ Saeed, Farishta; Bayoumy, Yara. Aboudi, Sami; Lyon, Alistair (eds.). "Bahrain puts groups on terrorism list after bomb kills three police". Archived from the original on 2018-02-27. Retrieved 2018-02-26.
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