First image of Iranian spy drone found in Gulf waters

Al Arabiya obtained on Saturday the picture of what the Bahraini authorities said was an Iranian spy drone that was found in the Gulf waters between Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.

Iran had denied on Thursday that one of its drones had violated the airspace of Bahrain, home to the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet, Iranian media reported.

Bahrain’s Information Minister Samira Rajab said the incident was a further indication of continued Iranian meddling in Bahraini affairs.

“The international community needs to put an end to the Iranian interference in our affairs,” she said.

Tensions have been rising between Saudi-backed Bahrain and Shi’ite-rule Iran.

Tehran has condemned a raid by security forces last week on the home of top Bahraini cleric, Ayatollah Issa Qassim, and Bahrain responded by accusing Iran of interfering in its affairs.

Bahrain’s chief of public security had made no mention of the raid on Qassim’s home but said police had come under fire from a “locally made weapon” in the area, wounding two officers.

Saudi state media said on Tuesday that officials had detained 10 people accused of spying for Iran after arresting 18 people in the same case in March. Iran denied any link to the case.