Bahrain Arrests 41 People Allegedly Linked To Iran’s IRGC Amid Ongoing Regional Tensions

The Interior Ministry of Bahrain on Saturday announced the arrest of 41 individuals allegedly linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), in what authorities described as one of the largest security operations since the escalation of regional conflict that began in early 2026. The arrests come amid heightened tensions across the Gulf following ongoing hostilities involving Iran and its regional adversaries.

According to a statement carried by the Bahrain News Agency, security forces identified the group as being connected to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and said investigations are ongoing under the supervision of the public prosecutor. Officials also indicated that some of the cases involve alleged sympathy or support for Iranian attacks, though no further details were released regarding the identities or nationalities of those detained.

Bahrain, which hosts the headquarters of the United States Navy Fifth Fleet in its capital Manama, has remained on high alert since the outbreak of the conflict. The kingdom has repeatedly stated that it is working to dismantle alleged covert networks operating within its territory amid fears of regional spillover from the wider war.

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The conflict escalated in late February 2026 following large-scale strikes on Iranian targets by Israel and the United States under coordinated operations. Iran responded with retaliatory missile and drone attacks across several Gulf states, including Bahrain, where multiple locations in Manama and Muharraq were reportedly hit during the initial wave of strikes.

Since then, Bahraini authorities say the country’s air defence systems have intercepted hundreds of incoming threats, including ballistic missiles and drones. Officials have also conducted multiple internal security operations, including earlier arrests of Bahraini nationals accused of espionage and alleged cooperation with the IRGC.

Although a temporary ceasefire was announced in April through international mediation, regional tensions have continued, with Gulf states maintaining heightened security measures. Bahraini authorities said investigations into suspected foreign-linked cells remain ongoing as part of broader efforts to secure the kingdom amid continued instability in the region.

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