[22] On 14 March, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) agreed to deploy Peninsula Shield Force troops to Bahrain to secure key installations.

[29][30] The real purpose of the intervention was to stop "a growing rebellion by the kingdom's majority, but deprived ... Shia citizens" by taking all necessary measures.

[31] Death of an Emirati policeman, Tariq al-Shehi, made it clear that the foreign troops were in fact involved in suppressing protests.

[32][33] Concerned about their own Shia population[30] and fearful of democratic change, Saudi king Abdullah sought to reverse the pro-democracy movements in his neighbor countries using force.

[34][35][36] Any Saudi departure from Bahrain and the assertion of Shia power would also directly affect U.S. interests[32] and lead to weakening United States "military posture in the region".

[26] The two kingdoms have strong economical ties and Saudi Arabia had made significant investments in Bahrain's tourism, infrastructure and industry.

[29] On 3 March 2014, a remotely detonated bomb by protesters in the village of Al Daih killed 3 police officers.

[37] On 15 January 2017, the Bahraini government passed a capital punishment sentence of execution by firing squad on three men found guilty for the bomb attack that killed the three security forces.