Iran–Saudi Arabia proxy conflict
Saudi Arabia and Iran have spent decades trying to expand their influence in Bahrain. The estimate percentage of Shia in the Bahraini population is between 60% and 70%, which concerns the neighboring Sunni countries because they fear a Shiite revolution against the government incited by Iran. Bahrain's Sunni ruling al-Khalifa family and the Sunni dynasties in the region have also accused Iran for provoking the Bahraini anti-government Uprising during the Arab Spring in February 2011. The protesters were non-sectarian and wanted greater political representation. The uprising was shut down after the Bahraini government requested help from neighboring countries. Saudi-Arabia deployed more than one thousand troops with armored support in an attempt to prevent Iranian involvement in the country but also to put a stop to democratic aspirations from spreading into the Gulf region.