“There are no Saudi forces, there are GCC [Gulf Cooperation Council: Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates ] forces and they will leave when they are done with any external threat. The external threat is a regional one. The external threat is a complete misunderstanding between the GCC and Iran.”-Sheikh Khaled Ben Ahmed Al Khalifa, Bahrain Foreign Minister
Saudi led forces will stay in Bahrain until further notice. There is also rumors that they will build a base alongside the U.S. Navy base, military sources report that some of the U.S. Fifth Fleet piers and facilities will be made available to the Saudi navy. The Bahraini government admitted that Saudi led forces will remain until there is no more “threat” from Iran. No details were given.
Oppression of the Shia majority in Bahrain is escalating, with reports of Saudi and Bahraini forces going into hospitals and dragging off patients. Saudi forces have also destroyed dozens of Shia Mosques. 70% of Bahrainis are Shia. The ruling family of Bahrain are not Shia.
On April 30, President Obama asked King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa of Bahrain to respect for the universal rights of the people of Bahrain.