Manama, Asharq Al-Awsat—A high-ranking Bahraini official has revealed that vital state sites, US facilities, and a prominent Bahraini personality were among the targets of a terrorist cell recently uncovered by the Bahraini security services. The discovery of the cell was announced on Sunday 17 February, and was revealed to be part of a larger group known as the “Imam Army”.

Asharq Al-Awsat previously learned from well-informed sources that one intended target was the headquarters of the United States Fifth Fleet, located in the Juffair district of Manama. Now, Bahrain’s interior minister, Lieutenant General Sheikh Rashid Bin Abdulla Al-Khalifa, has confirmed that the dismantled terrorist cell was indeed planning to target these facilities.

In a meeting with Bahraini community leaders, Lieutenant Genearl Khalifa explained that the cell members had received training in the use of weapons and explosives. The information obtained from the detainees in this regard had been almost identical, as well as with regards to how intelligence was gathered and how recruitment was orchestrated.

The interior minister revealed that the training had taken place under the auspices of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Hezbollah in Iraq. The cell had also received a total funding of USD 80,000.

Khalifa added that the cell had been monitored for a period of time, with the Bahraini security services following the movements, travel, and contacts of the members. The minister added that after the creation of the cell, and the increase in members, who are all Bahrainis, the plan was to find a place to store weapons—which were due to be smuggled—and then use them in a terrorist operation.

Lieutenant General Khalifa affirmed, “We couldn’t wait for the number of cell members to increase or until the warehouse was ready and ammunition was smuggled into the country.” He added, “The risk was too high.”

According to Khalifa’s assessment, the Bahraini security services could not have acted any later. The number of those involved would have increased and more people would have been arrested. As a result, efforts were made to thwart the cell in its early stages.

The interior minister stood by his country’s accusations that the Iranian regime is interfering in Bahrain’s internal affairs, and infringing upon the sovereignty of its domestic security. He asserted that the Bahraini Ministry of Interior does not make accusations unless it can support them with accurate evidence.

Lieutenant General Khalifa claimed the attempts by Bahraini Shi’ite elements to carry out terrorist plots were intended to consecrate hatred and sectarianism in Bahraini society. He stressed, “Belonging to a sect should not take priority over belonging to a nation. We are all Bahrainis and we all must take care of one another.”

He went on to emphasize that the Shi’ites of Bahrain are Bahraini citizens, and that there is no difference between one citizen and another. “All Bahrainis have equal human rights and all are held to the same standards and laws.”

The interior minister pointed out that at a time when talk of religious coexistence is paramount, there are accusatory fingers being pointed at Iran in more than one regional issue. He wondered, “Is this what we understand the exportation of the Shi’ite revolution to be?”

Finally, Lieutenant General Khalifa claimed that the absence of an effective Arab union, and the preoccupation of every Arab country with its internal concerns, has led to an increase in Iranian interference. He placed his hopes on the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) as a starting point for a new regional institution to defend the Arab identity.