Bahrain Mirror: The security authorities arrested former president of "Wa'ad", Ibrahim Sharif, today, Wednesday, December 20, 2023, and he will be presented tomorrow, Thursday, to the Public Prosecution. 

Sharif's arrest came as a result of his condemnation to the government of Bahrain's decision to join the US-led maritime coalition against Yemen.

Ibrahim Sharif wondered why "the unelected government of Bahrain offered itself as a legitimate 'analyst' for the US coalition to lift the blockade imposed by Yemen on the ports of the usurping Zionist entity?" 

Sharif said, in a post on the "X" platform on Tuesday, December 19, 2023, that "the government of Bahrain offers itself to the American coalition without any regard for the stance of the Bahraini people, who strongly support our besieged Palestinian people who are being slaughtered in Gaza."

He pointed out that "all Arab and Islamic countries, including those with ports overlooking the Red Sea, refrained from participating in this aggressive alliance."

On Tuesday, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced the formation of a military coalition that includes Bahrain, as the only Arab and Islamic country, to confront the Yemeni armed forces in the Red Sea.

Austin said in a statement published on the US Department of State website that "the counties taking part in the coalition include: United Kingdom, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles and Spain."

"The forces will operate under the umbrella of the Combined Maritime Forces and the leadership of Task Force 153, a U.S. Navy-led initiative focused on maritime security in the Red Sea," he noted.

The US announcement came as a result of targeting operations carried out by the Yemeni armed forces against Israeli ships and others heading for the occupation entity, in support of the Gaza Strip, which prompted a number of shipping companies to stop sending their ships through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal.

Arabic Version