The Islamic State group is calling on its followers to launch attacks in Bahrain, including those targeting American military personnel stationed on the tiny island ahead of a visit by the US defense secretary.
The appeal for violence came in a video that also urges militants to attack the Sunni-ruled island's Shiite majority amid a wider government crackdown on dissent there.
The slickly produced video surfaced as IS propaganda has waned as the extremists continue to lose territory in Iraq and Syria under the onslaught of a US-led coalition campaign against them. Bahrain is part of that coalition.
In the IS video, images of Bahraini fighter jets are juxtaposed to footage of an airstrike hitting an IS-held area. It also shows clips of a Bahrain-based Gulf Air flight, the King Fahd Causeway linking the island to Saudi Arabia and other sites in the capital, Manama.
"Wherever the enemies of Allah are found, there is jihad. Below you are the malevolent (Shiites) and the apostate soldiers of tyranny," one fighter says, according to a transcript provided by the US jihadi-monitoring 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," the militant adds.
Bahrain is home to the US Navy's 5th Fleet, as well as a British naval base still under construction. Officials with the 5th Fleet did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
In a statement to The Associated Press on today, Bahrain's government said it "remains vigilant against terrorist activities and extremism."
"Authorities continue to take all necessary steps to preserve security and stability within the kingdom," it read. The video appeared timed for high-level meetings on the island.
A Gulf Cooperation Council conference attended by British Prime Minister Theresa May ended yesterday. Weeks earlier, Britain's Prince Charles and wife Camilla visited the island. This coming weekend, Bahrain will host the Manama Dialogue, where US Defense Secretary Ash Carter is scheduled to give the opening address. British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson is also due to attend.
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