National Guard (Bahrain)

National Guard الحرس الوطني
National Guard Insignia
Founded	1997
Country	Bahrain
Allegiance	Bahrain
Branch	Army
Type	Land Force
Role	Land warfare
Size	3,800
Part of	King of Bahrain
Garrison/HQ	Al-Sakhir, Bahrain
Anniversaries	7 January
Engagements	Bahraini uprising (2011–present)
Commanders
Current commander	Lieutenant General Mohammed bin Isa Al Khalifa
Insignia
National Guard flag

External image

Photo showing members of the Bahraini National Guard arrest Wall Street Journal reporter Alex Delmar-Morgan as he walks towards Pearl Square on 16 March 2011 from the Daily Mail, 17 March 2011

The National Guard of Bahrain (Arabic: الحرس الوطني‎‎) is a separate Royal Bahraini Army in Bahrain that serves both as defence force against external threats and as a security force Ministry of Interior (Bahrain) against internal threats. It was established in 1997, through a royal decree by then Emir Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa.

The National Guard is currently commanded by Lieutenant-General Mohammed bin Isa Al Khalifa, brother of King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. It consists of about 3,800 personnel.

The National Guard has been involved in the Bahrain government's violent crackdown on outlaws protesters during the Riots events (2011-2012).