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Move which sees soldiers called in to protect strategic sites likely to inflame tensions between rulers and Shia majority Saudi Arabian troops have crossed into Bahrain after the tiny Gulf state’s rulers asked for help from neighbouring Sunni Arab states to quell a two-month uprising that threatens their 200-year-old political dynasty. Riyadh said it had responded to a “security threat” by deploying its military in the streets of its tiny near-neighbour. The Saudi troops have been asked to protect strategic sites, such as bridges and government buildings. Bahrain’s rulers said the Saudi forces had crossed the 16-mile causeway linking Saudi Arabia with the Arab world’s smallest state as part of a contingent of troops from the Gulf Co-operation Council. Saudi authorities did not give details on the size of the force, which some reports estimate to be about 1,000-strong. The move is likely to inflame tensions between the regime and Bahrain’s Shia majority, which has laid siege to central Manama since mid-February and has, in recent days, marched on key government buildings and palaces. As news of the Saudi intervention spread throughout Manama, the landmark Pearl roundabout in the centre of the capital – which has become a focal point for the protests – and a nearby overpass saw tens of thousands of demonstrators, many of whom were bracing for fresh confrontations with troops. More worrying for many observers than the spectre of new clashes is an escalation in the standoff between the Gulf states and Iran, which has strongly backed Bahrain’s Shia majority and has long been at odds with its Gulf neighbours, especially Saudi Arabia. Iran’s foreign minister, Ali Akbar, reacted immediately to the deployment, urging Bahrain’s leaders to use discipline and wisdom in defusing the steadily deteriorating security situation. Meanwhile, Bahrain’s main opposition bloc, the al-Wefaq party, described the Saudi-led intervention as a ‘declaration of war’. An opposition alliance urged United Nations intervention. “We consider the entry of any soldier or military machinery into the Kingdom of Bahrain’s air, sea or land territories a blatant occupation,” al-Wefaq said. “This real threat about the entry of Saudi and other Gulf forces into Bahrain to confront the defenceless Bahraini people puts the Bahraini people in real danger, and threatens them with an undeclared war by armed troops.” The White House said it did not consider the entry into Bahrain of Saudi Arabian security forces an invasion. “This is not an invasion of a country,” White House spokesman Jay Carney said. “We urge the government of Bahrain, as we have repeatedly, as well as other GCC countries [Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates], to exercise restraint,” Carney added. The past month has seen diplomatic relations between Washington and Bahrain’s rulers sorely tested. US officials had initially backed the demonstrators’ demands for widespread political reforms and the instalment of a constitutional monarchy, which stripped power from the regime. Their support was partly based on a shift in US Middle East policy to favouring democracy over stability, rather than the other way around — which had been stated US policy for more than 60 years. However, frenetic shuttle diplomacy between Manama and Washington, as well as urgent appeals from the Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia, has since led the US to retreat to the sidelines in the dispute. Bahraini officials earlier this month told their US counterparts that the protests could gain unstoppable momentum if they continued to be sanctioned by the US, a development that would imperil US interests. The US has long viewed Bahrain as one of its most important strategic allies in the Middle East. It bases its Fifth Fleet near Manama, and sees the kingdom as a buffer amid tensions between the US and Iran. Bahrain’s crown prince, Sheikh Salman al-Khalifa, late last month announced a dialogue with opposition parties aimed at giving the disenchanted Shia majority a greater role in the affairs of state. The talks, however, appear to have stalled, with opposition groups at odds over key demands. Some opposition members are insisting on the overthrowing of the monarchy, while al-Wefaq has limited its calls to making Bahrain more accountable by law. Shias account for around 70% of Bahrain’s population, but are not allowed to serve in large parts of the country’s establishment, like the military and the police. The regime has long-believed that its Shia population is susceptible to Iranian influence. Bahrain’s security forces are comprised almost exclusively of Sunni Arabs, many of whom have been invited from neighbouring Sunni states and given Bahraini citizenship. A common refrain among the country’s Shia groups is that the security forces safeguard the regime, but not the people. As central Manama once again seethed, troops and riot police were nowhere to be seen. Clashes in February left seven demonstrators dead. Dozens more were wounded, mainly with tear gas and rubber bullets, although live rounds were fired by troops after demonstrators were ousted from Pearl roundabout during a pre-dawn assault on 16 February. The crown prince ordered that troops surrender the roundabout three days later as part of the regime’s calls for calm. Bahrain Saudi Arabia Protest US foreign policy Middle East Iran Obama administration United States Martin Chulov guardian.co.uk