Kuwaitis defy orders to invade Bahrain

A number of Kuwaiti naval officers have disobeyed orders to reinforce the violent Saudi-backed crackdown on the popular revolution in Bahrain.

The servicemen cited a fatwa (religious decree) issued by a religious authority, which has condemned enlistment with the Island Shield security forces, the Kuwaiti daily Al-Anbaa wrote on Thursday, citing sources within the military.

The Island Shield was established as the security front for the members of the [Persian] Gulf Cooperation Council, which include Bahrain, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Qatar.

The council is mandated to defend the member states against “external threats.” Led by Riyadh, however, the Kuwait City and Abu Dhabi invaded Bahrain in mid-March to assist Manama’s armed attacks on the protests, which have been ongoing since February 14.

Scores of protesters have been killed and many others gone missing during the crackdown — intensified with the arrival of the foreign troops.

The Kuwaiti newspaper added, “One officer has said he would not go there and [the government] can do whatever it wants.”

The officers are to be investigated and are expected to face severe punishments, namely ejection from the military, should they insist on their refusal.

The Bahraini waters host a Kuwait naval unit reportedly deployed there on Saudi orders to make it look like that Riyadh is not the only party invading Bahrain.