Bahrain has been battling rising Shi'ite unrest said to be assisted by
Iran. In 2007, a leading Iranian cleric said Bahrain was a province of Iran.
In an address on June 25, Al Zayani urged Bahrain's allies to provide
early-warning of any Iranian attack. He said Manama has sought to enhance
protection of vital infrastructure as well as upgrade coastal radar and
maritime security.
"As partners we ask, rather in hope than in expectation, that we are
consulted or at least given early warning of major escalation or other
actions," Al Zayani said.
Al Zayani raised the prospect of a Shi'ite revolt in Bahrain. The
security chief said a portion of the Gulf Arab kingdom's Shi'ite majority
has demonstrated what he termed blind loyalty to Teheran.
"In this connection and more generally, it is important to say that the
actions of our allies often influence threat levels in Bahrain," Al Zayani
said.
Another scenario was that Al Qaida, particularly operatives from
neighboring Saudi Arabia, would launch an attack on Bahrain. Al Zayani said
the U.S. Fifth Fleet represented a "high-profile target." Manama has been
the headquarters for the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet as well as a Western-led
Gulf naval task force.
"There is the evident risk of them spilling over into Bahrain as
extremists or terrorists seek out what they might perceive to be a softer
target," Al Zayani said.
