entity

Bahrain

Entities (5)

Kuwait

Kuwait

Kuwait and Bahrain are related as fellow member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council [1] that have collectively issued diplomatic condemnations of Iran [2] and were both targeted by Iranian projectiles [3] and infrastructure strikes [4] during regional escalations. — 4 supporting facts

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Iran

Iran

Iran and Bahrain are linked through regional geopolitical tensions, where Iran's influence is a primary concern for Bahrain and its GCC allies [1], [2], [3]. This relationship is further defined by Bahrain's diplomatic efforts to condemn Iranian actions [4] and historical concerns regarding Iranian support for Shia populations within Bahrain [5], as well as recent efforts by Bahrain to manage regional escalation involving Iran [6]. — 4 supporting facts

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Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia and Bahrain are linked as fellow member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in [1] and [2], and they share common regional security concerns regarding Iranian influence as detailed in [3] and [4]. — 2 supporting facts

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Houthi movement

Houthi movement

Bahrain is a member of the Saudi-led coalition that launched a military intervention against the Houthi movement in 2015 [1], [2]. This conflict is part of a broader regional proxy war involving both entities [3]. — 2 supporting facts

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Israel

Israel

Israel and Bahrain are linked through their participation in the 2020 Abraham Accords, which normalized diplomatic relations between the two nations [1]. This normalization process was a central focus of Middle Eastern international policy prior to the 2023 Gaza war [2], and both countries are currently involved in regional efforts to manage tensions with Iran [3]. — 1 supporting fact

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Facts (22)

Sources

Opportunities for Collective Regional Security in the Middle East carnegieendowment.org Amr Hamzawy · Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Mar 5, 2025 5 facts

measurementThe proxy war in Yemen, fought between Iran-backed Houthis and a Saudi-led coalition including the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, resulted in thousands of deaths and the displacement of millions of people between 2015 and 2023.

claimSaudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates sought to contain Iranian regional expansion in Bahrain, Yemen, Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon.

claimPrior to the October 2023 Gaza war, international focus in the Middle East had largely shifted toward the normalization of the Abraham Accords, which involved Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Morocco.

accountIn 2011, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates perceived the Arab Spring uprisings as a destabilizing force, fearing that the resulting chaos would empower political Islam movements and increase Iranian influence, particularly in Bahrain and Yemen.

accountIn 2015, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain launched a military intervention as part of the 'Arab Coalition' to counter the Houthi movement, which led to repeated Houthi attacks on Saudi and Emirati territories until 2023.

The Middle East, including the Palestinian Question, April 2026 ... securitycouncilreport.org Security Council Report 1 day ago 4 facts

claimUN Security Council Resolution 2817, authored by Bahrain on behalf of the Gulf Cooperation Council and Jordan, condemns Iran's strikes against these countries, determines that these acts constitute a breach of international law and a threat to international peace and security, and demands that Iran immediately halt attacks and comply with international law.

perspectiveBahrain and Pakistan are expected to continue emphasizing Palestinian self-determination, the centrality of the Palestinian Authority, and the need to preserve the unity of the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT).

measurementUN Security Council resolution 2817 was drafted by Bahrain on behalf of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates) and Jordan, and was co-sponsored by 136 UN member states.

claimThe UN Security Council will hold its quarterly open debate on 'The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question' in April 2026, with Bahrain serving as the Council president.

War by Proxy: Iran's Growing Footprint in the Middle East - CSIS csis.org CSIS Mar 11, 2019 4 facts

claimIranian activism and the proliferation of Iranian-backed non-state actors have alarmed regional governments, including Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Morocco, facilitating broader regional balancing against Iran.

claimThe IRGC-QF has attempted to overthrow the Bahraini government multiple times and has trained Bahraini proxies alongside Lebanese Hezbollah and Kata’ib Hezbollah trainers.

claimMichael Knights and Matthew Levitt argue that a smoldering insurgency in Bahrain demonstrates the resilience of Iran's proxy war strategy.

claimIran has utilized Bahraini fighters in Syria.

Experts react: How the US war with Iran is playing out around the ... atlanticcouncil.org Atlantic Council Mar 1, 2026 3 facts

accountIran expanded the circle of combatants during the conflict by targeting infrastructure in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, and Oman.

accountDuring the escalation linked to US-Israeli strikes on Iran, Iranian missiles or projectiles hit Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan, despite none of these states launching attacks against Iran from their territory.

claimQatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait issued condemnations of Iran's actions following recent regional strikes.

The crises in the Middle East: reshaping the region's geopolitical ... link.springer.com Springer Jan 9, 2025 2 facts

claimIran's involvement in regional conflicts in Lebanon, Yemen, Bahrain, Iraq, and Syria has heightened tensions with Kurdish groups and complicated efforts to address the Kurdish question.

claimThe geopolitical rivalry between the Shia and Sunni blocs, represented by Iran and Saudi Arabia, has fueled sectarian tensions and proxy wars in Syria, Lebanon, Bahrain, Iraq, and Yemen, complicating peaceful conflict resolution.

An Integrated U.S. Strategy to Address Iran's Nuclear and Regional ... carnegieendowment.org William J. Burns, Michèle Flournoy · Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Oct 26, 2017 1 fact

accountSaudi-Iranian tensions have persisted for forty years, evidenced by events such as the 1990s Khobar Towers bombing and Saudi concerns regarding Iranian support for Shia minorities in eastern Saudi Arabia and Shia majorities in Bahrain.

Escalation in the Middle East and Beyond unocha.org UN OCHA 7 days ago 1 fact

claimIranian strikes have killed or injured civilians, including migrant workers, in Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.

The International Implications of the Russo-Ukrainian War link.springer.com Springer 1 fact

claimThe Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), comprising Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman, condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine but did not implement concrete measures to deter further Russian aggression.

After Khamenei: Regional Reckoning and the Future of Iran's Proxy ... stimson.org Stimson Center Mar 2, 2026 1 fact

claimIran formed, funded, and weaponized proxy networks in Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen, Bahrain, Syria, and Gaza as a cornerstone of its foreign policy.