Al-Ashtar Brigades
 | 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. (August 2020) |
| Al-Ashtar Brigades | |
|---|---|
| سرايا الأشتر | |
 | |
| Active regions | Bahrain |
| Ideology | Pro-Iran |
| Allies |  Iran (claimed by Bahraini gov.) Hezbollah (claimed by Bahraini gov.) Kata'ib Hezbollah (claimed by Bahraini gov.)[1] |
| Opponents |  Bahrain United Arab Emirates[2] Saudi Arabia |
| Battles and wars | the Shia insurgency in Bahrain |
The al-Ashtar Brigades (Saraya al-Ashtar, named after Malik al-Ashtar[3]) 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.[3]
Terrorist designation[]
| Country | Date | Ref |
 United Kingdom
|
22 December 2014 | [4] |
In June 2017, the al-Ashtar Brigades were designated as terrorist organizations by Bahrain, Egypt, the UAE and Saudi Arabia.[3] The United States Department of State has designated the group as a terrorist organization, as of July 2018.[3][5]
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.[6]
Attacks[]
The group has reportedly claimed responsibility for over 20 attacks in Bahrain, primarily targeting police and security forces.[3]
The group was designated a terrorist organization by Bahrain following a bombing in Al Daih, which killed three policemen.[7]
References[]
- ^ "'سرايا الأشتر'.. تنظيم شيعي مسلح يهدد البحرين".
- ^ "سرايا الأشتر". 24 February 2017.
- ^ a b c d e Naar, Ismaeel (June 9, 2017). "Who are the al-Ashtar Brigades, latest Arab-designated 'terrorist group'?". Al Arabiya.
- ^ "من هم "سرايا الأشتر" و "سرايا المختار" من وجهة نظر بريطانيا". 23 December 2017.
- ^ "State Department Terrorist Designation of al-Ashtar Brigades (AAB)". U.S. State Department. 10 July 2018.
- ^ Wess, Caleb (February 23, 2018). "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.
- ^ Saeed, Farishta; Bayoumy, Yara. Aboudi, Sami; Lyon, Alistair (eds.). "Bahrain puts groups on terrorism list after bomb kills three police".
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