Bahrain considers Israeli raids in the region "self-defense"

Bahrain said Monday that strikes against Iran and its arms were "self-defense" in a tweet posted by Twitter.

The tweet came as Israel launched a raid on Saturday night on what it called "Iranian targets" in Syria.

"It is Iran that declared war on us, with its Revolutionary Guards, its Lebanese Party (Hezbollah), its Popular Mobilization Forces in Iraq and its Houthi group in Yemen and elsewhere," he said.

"He does not blame those who beat them and destroy their equipment, it is self-defense."

"Article 51 of Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations clearly affirms the right of States to defend themselves against any threat or aggression," he said.

In June, Khaled bin Ahmed said in an interview with an Israeli channel that his country's positions on Iran were "close" to Israeli positions, stressing that Tehran posed "the main threat to the stability and security of the region."

The Middle East is in a state of tension. Washington and Gulf capitals, particularly Riyadh, accuse Tehran of targeting Gulf oil ships and facilities and threatening maritime navigation, a charge Tehran denies.