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ISIS Directs Militants to Attack U.S. Military Bases in Bahrain

U.S. Navy sailors aboard American military ship docked in Manama, Bahrain / AP
December 8, 2016

The Islamic State called on supporters to launch attacks against American military personnel stationed in Bahrain prior to Defense Secretary Ash Carter's visit to the island this weekend.

ISIS also urged militants to attack the island's Shi'ite majority in the propaganda video released on Tuesday, the Associated Press reported. The terrorist group has previously threatened Bahrain given the Sunni-ruled nation's involvement in the U.S.-led coalition against ISIS in Iraq and Syria.

The video shows images of Bahraini fighter jets along with footage of airstrikes hitting ISIS-held territories.

"Wherever the enemies of Allah are found, there is jihad. Below you are the malevolent [Shi'ites] and the apostate soldiers of tyranny," an ISIS fighter says, according to the SITE Intelligence Group. "The muzzles of your weapons should not miss those American bases where from military aircraft took off to pour their flames on the monotheists in the territories of Islam."

Cmdr. Bill Urban, a spokesman for the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet, which is based on the island, told the AP that military officials were aware of the video. The U.S. Embassy in the capital of Manama issued a security warning last week, heeding that "extremist groups have issued broad calls for action by their supporters against the government of Bahrain and [the] U.S. military."

The Bahraini government said in a statement it "remains vigilant against terrorist activities and extremism."

Carter is expected to deliver an opening address this coming weekend for the Manama Dialogue hosted on the island. British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson will also attend.