27th Mar, 2013 –
Let’s put aside Hezbollah’s involvement in massacres in Syria and Hezbollah’s involvement in destabilizing Lebanon, Iraq and other parts of the region: If we just look at Bahrain and the Gulf, we cave several reasons for considering Hezbollah to be terrorists:
· Hezbollah and Iranian involvement in training and arming terrorist cells in Bahrain in readiness for bombing campaigns; including the group currently on trial charged with obtaining support from Iran’s Republican Guards and Hezbollah for preparing a terror campaign.
· A related case which has just gone to trial involves a plot to bomb Bahrain’s National Stadium during January’s Gulf Cup. A bomb going off in a crowded football stadium packed with spectators of numerous nationalities would have had unthinkable consequences.
· Diplomats – including the British Ambassador – have cited growing evidence for Iranian and Hezbollah involvement in supporting violence in Bahrain.
· Hezbollah’s Al-Manar TV and other Arabic language Iranian propaganda channels like Al-Alam and Al-Mayadin pump out daily incitement to violence targeted at communities in Bahrain, as well as broadcasting lies about what is occurring.
· Saudi Arabia has confirmed Iranian involvement in the spy network recently arrested, including at least one Lebanese and one Iranian – there have been indications that this network had hostile intentions towards both Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. Other Arabian Gulf nations have taken measures against Iranian spy networks and expressed concern about Hezbollah activities.
· Hezbollah have been behind a continuing campaign of propaganda and incitement against Bahrain, particularly in countries like Iraq and Lebanon; seeking to turn public opinion against Bahrain and undermine stability in the Kingdom.
· Hezbollah is considered by numerous states to be a terrorist organization; including numerous European nations, Australia, Canada and the US.
· Experts have noted the very close similarities between Hezbollah’s communications and media operations and that of the Bahraini opposition. Key opposition figures are very close to Hezbollah and there is much anecdotal evidence of direct Hezbollah support, training and facilitation.
· Hezbollah is one of the arms of Iran’s hostile foreign policy. Iran’s leaders have repeatedly claimed Bahrain as part of Iran; they were behind coup attempts in the Kingdom over previous decades; and they have repeatedly signaled their determination to work against Bahrain’s Constitutional Monarchy, to the degree that Iran’s proxies inside Bahrain in February 2011 openly called for an Islamic Republic along Iranian lines.
Iran’s support for terrorism in Bahrain is incompatible with Bahrain’s national security. After two years of Hezbollah and Iran’s efforts to spread chaos and violence, we are right to be branding them as what they are – terrorists.