Bahrain Said Dismantled ‘Terror Cell Linked’ To Iran

Bahraini authorities announced that they had broken up and arrested members of a “terrorist cell” linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah on Wednesday.

“A secret terrorist plot aided by the so-called Iranian Revolutionary Guard and the Hezbollah terrorist organization was foiled”, Bahrain’s BNA state news agency reported.

According to the report, the cell was led by brothers Ali and Mohamed Fakhrawi. In November, Bahrain said it had arrested 47 members of a group believed to have links to “terrorist elements in Iran” who it said were planning to carry out attacks in the coming days.

Tensions between Hezbollah and Bahrain continued through 2015 with the Gulf Cooperation Council condemning in January 2015 Nasrallah remarks on the country as “incitement to violence and discord”. While in Iran, Mohammed Ahmed Fakhrawi was found to have met with senior leaders of IRG, before travelling to Lebanon’s Dahieh area to meet deputies of Hezbollah’s leader and secure further support for the Al-Basta Group within Bahrain.

Several airlines, including Iran’s Mahan Air, use aircraft like the Airbus A330 and A320 for pilgrim flights and total to about 150 flights each month between the two countries, aviation sources said.

Saudi Arabia accused Iran on Saturday of sponsoring “terrorism”, recalling Iran-linked cells that have been uncovered smuggling explosives and arms to Bahrain and Kuwait.

The decision comes a day after Manama broke off diplomatic relations with Tehran amid an escalating crisis between Saudi Arabia and the Islamic republic over the execution of a Shiite cleric.

Iran’s Supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, warned Saudi Arabia that it will face “divine retribution” after officials executed Nimr al-Nimr.

The tiny but strategic USA ally has seen frequent unrest since a Shiite-led uprising erupted in 2011, demanding a constitutional monarchy.