Bahrain Defence Force

<h2 id="history">History</h2>
<p>The Bahrain Defence Force was established in 1968 by Sheikh <a href="/facts/Isa_bin_Salman_Al_Khalifa/pgNFdxY6">Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa</a> for safeguarding the nation's primary interests and was initially named the National Guard. In November 1, 1969 the National Guard was renamed to the Bahrain Defence Force. The first batch of recruits started basic training in 28 October 1968 with the first recurits of the force graduating in 5th of February 1969.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a>
</p><p>In 1977 Isa ibn Salman appointed his eldest son and heir apparent, <a href="/facts/Hamad_ibn_Isa_Al_Khalifa/AWb4wt9s">Hamad ibn Isa Al Khalifa</a>, to be minister of defense and commander in chief of the Bahrain Defense Force. Sheikh Hamad, a recent graduate of <a href="/facts/Mons_Officer_Cadet_School/UmMYxnpB">Mons Officer Cadet School</a> in 1969, was tasked with restructuring the Bahrain Defence Force.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a> 
</p><p>The Bahrain Defence Force participated in the <a href="/facts/Gulf_War/6LdLnGdo">Gulf War</a>, <a href="/facts/War_on_terror/CTGl4eto">War on terror</a>, and <a href="/facts/Saudi-led_intervention_in_Yemen/sy1ffXrP">Saudi-led intervention in Yemen</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a>
</p>
<h2 id="commanders-in-chief-of-the-bdf">Commanders-in-Chief of the BDF</h2>
<p class="note">Main article: <a href="/facts/Commander-in-Chief_of_the_Bahrain_Defence_Force/UnrAwdlx">Commander-in-Chief of the Bahrain Defence Force</a></p>
<h2 id="see-also">See also</h2>
<ul><li><a href="/facts/National_Guard_(Bahrain)/m5DrVVph">National Guard (Bahrain)</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Special_Security_Force_Command/nuSfbfLu">Special Security Force Command</a></li></ul>

<h2 id="external-links">External links</h2>

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bahrain Defence Force.

<ul><li><a href="https://www.bdf.bh/">Official site</a></li>
<li><a href="https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/26414.htm#defense">Background Note: Bahrain - Defense</a> U.S. Department of State</li></ul>

<h2 id="references">References</h2>

<ol>
<li id="fn:1"><p>"Bahrain". The 2011 US Department of State Background Notes. United States Department of State. Retrieved 2 March 2012. The Bahrain Defense Force (BDF) numbers about 113,000 personnel. <a href="https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/26414.htm" target="_blank">https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/26414.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:2"><p>"Royal Decree No 1 of the Year 2008 on the Appointment of the Deputy Supreme Commander". Official Gazette of the Kingdom of Bahrain. 6 January 2008. Archived from the original on 27 November 2012. <a href="https://archive.today/20121127084534/http://www.legalaffairs.gov.bh/viewhtm.aspx?ID=O0108" target="_blank">https://archive.today/20121127084534/http://www.legalaffairs.gov.bh/viewhtm.aspx?ID=O0108</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:3"><p>"Royal Decree No 2 of the Year 2008 on the Appointment of the Commander-in-Chief of the Bahrain Defence Force". Official Gazette of the Kingdom of Bahrain. 6 January 2008. Archived from the original on 8 December 2012. <a href="https://archive.today/20121208152541/http://www.legalaffairs.gov.bh/viewhtm.aspx?ID=O0208" target="_blank">https://archive.today/20121208152541/http://www.legalaffairs.gov.bh/viewhtm.aspx?ID=O0208</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:4"><p>"قوة دفاع البحرين.. خمسون عاماً من الفداء والعطاء" (in Arabic). Al Watan. 4 February 2018. <a href="https://alwatannews.net/Bahrain/article/757118/%D9%82%D9%88%D8%A9-%D8%AF%D9%81%D8%A7%D8%B9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8%D8%AD%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%86-%D8%AE%D9%85%D8%B3%D9%88%D9%86-%D8%B9%D8%A7%D9%85%D8%A7-%D9%85%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%81%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%A1-%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%B7%D8%A7%D8%A1" target="_blank">https://alwatannews.net/Bahrain/article/757118/%D9%82%D9%88%D8%A9-%D8%AF%D9%81%D8%A7%D8%B9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8%D8%AD%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%86-%D8%AE%D9%85%D8%B3%D9%88%D9%86-%D8%B9%D8%A7%D9%85%D8%A7-%D9%85%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%81%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%A1-%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%B7%D8%A7%D8%A1</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:5"><p>"Decoding the Fascinating Bahrain Defence Force History". Militarysphere.com. 29 June 2024. <a href="https://militarysphere.com/bahrain-defence-force-history/" target="_blank">https://militarysphere.com/bahrain-defence-force-history/</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:6"><p>"قوة دفاع البحرين.. خمسون عاماً من الفداء والعطاء" (in Arabic). Al Watan. 4 February 2018. <a href="https://alwatannews.net/Bahrain/article/757118/%D9%82%D9%88%D8%A9-%D8%AF%D9%81%D8%A7%D8%B9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8%D8%AD%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%86-%D8%AE%D9%85%D8%B3%D9%88%D9%86-%D8%B9%D8%A7%D9%85%D8%A7-%D9%85%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%81%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%A1-%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%B7%D8%A7%D8%A1" target="_blank">https://alwatannews.net/Bahrain/article/757118/%D9%82%D9%88%D8%A9-%D8%AF%D9%81%D8%A7%D8%B9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8%D8%AD%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%86-%D8%AE%D9%85%D8%B3%D9%88%D9%86-%D8%B9%D8%A7%D9%85%D8%A7-%D9%85%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%81%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%A1-%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%B7%D8%A7%D8%A1</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:7"><p>"Bahrain Defence Force (BDF)". globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 25 July 2024. <a href="https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/gulf/bahrain-mil.htm" target="_blank">https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/gulf/bahrain-mil.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:8"><p>"قوة دفاع البحرين.. خمسون عاماً من الفداء والعطاء" (in Arabic). Al Watan. 4 February 2018. <a href="https://alwatannews.net/Bahrain/article/757118/%D9%82%D9%88%D8%A9-%D8%AF%D9%81%D8%A7%D8%B9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8%D8%AD%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%86-%D8%AE%D9%85%D8%B3%D9%88%D9%86-%D8%B9%D8%A7%D9%85%D8%A7-%D9%85%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%81%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%A1-%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%B7%D8%A7%D8%A1" target="_blank">https://alwatannews.net/Bahrain/article/757118/%D9%82%D9%88%D8%A9-%D8%AF%D9%81%D8%A7%D8%B9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8%D8%AD%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%86-%D8%AE%D9%85%D8%B3%D9%88%D9%86-%D8%B9%D8%A7%D9%85%D8%A7-%D9%85%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%81%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%A1-%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%B7%D8%A7%D8%A1</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
</ol>

Bahrain Defence Force open-in-new

Bahrain Defence Force