Bahraini Sailors Robbed, Forced Toward Iran at Sea

The Bahrain Interior Ministry announced on Tuesday that three Bahraini sailors were forced at gunpoint from Bahrain’s territorial waters toward Iranian waters during an armed robbery at sea earlier this month.

According to an official statement summarizing the sailors’ testimony, the incident took place on February 18 while the men were on board a Bahraini vessel.

The sailors said that armed attackers intercepted their boat while they were at sea. Under the threat of weapons, the assailants forced the crew to steer their vessel away from Bahrain’s territorial waters in the direction of Iranian waters.

The attackers, whom the sailors identified as Iranian nationals, then ordered the crew to board the assailants’ boat.

During the robbery, the perpetrators reportedly seized one of the vessel’s engines along with other belongings. After approximately three hours, the attackers released the sailors.

The men were later able to return safely toward Bahrain, the ministry confirmed.

Authorities have not yet released further details about the suspects or any ongoing investigation.