| Al-Ashtar Brigades | |
|---|---|
| سرايا الأشتر | |
 | |
| Dates of operation | 2012–present |
| Allegiance |  Iran (IRGC)[1] |
| Active regions | Bahrain |
| Ideology | Shia Islamism Khomeinism Anti-West |
| Part of | Islamic Resistance in Bahrain[2] |
| Allies | Iran  Hezbollah (claimed by Bahraini gov.)Kata'ib Hezbollah(claimed by Bahraini gov.)[3] Shia militias in Qatif Houthi Movement Yemen |
| Opponents |  Bahrain United Arab Emirates[4] Saudi Arabia Israel |
| Battles and wars | the Shia insurgency in Bahrain Israel–Hamas war |
| Designated as a terrorist group by | |
The al-Ashtar Brigades (Saraya al-Ashtar, named after Malik al-Ashtar[6]), or AAB for short, is the paramilitary branch of the Islamic Resistance in Bahrain, a Shiite militant group designated as a terrorist organization by the governments of Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, United States and Canada.[6]
- ^ Wess, Caleb (February 23, 2018). "Bahraini militant group adopts IRGC branding". Archived from the original on April 1, 2018. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
At the same time, Saraya al Ashtar reaffirmed its loyalty to the Islamic Republic of Iran. "We believe that the commander and ruler of the Islamic religion is the line of the two imams, Khomeini and Khamenei, which is in the original Muhammad approach in confronting the oppressors and fighting back against the tyrants," the group's statement reads.
- ^ "Institute for the Study of War". Institute for the Study of War.
- ^ "'سرايا الأشتر'.. تنظيم شيعي مسلح يهدد البحرين". Archived from the original on 2018-02-18. Retrieved 2020-07-31.
- ^ "سرايا الأشتر". 24 February 2017. Archived from the original on 29 July 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
- ^ "Currently listed entities". 21 December 2018. Archived from the original on 5 October 2016. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
- ^ a b Naar, Ismaeel (June 9, 2017). "Who are the al-Ashtar Brigades, latest Arab-designated 'terrorist group'?". Al Arabiya. Archived from the original on February 27, 2018. Retrieved February 26, 2018.