Today, Aluminium Bahrain (Alba), one of the largest aluminum smelters in the world, confirmed that its facilities were targeted in an Iranian attack just one day prior. This wasn’t just another act of aggression in an already volatile region—it was a direct strike against the working class, the backbone of Bahrain’s economy, and a chilling reminder of how wars are waged on the backs of ordinary people. **A Target on the Back of Industry** Alba isn’t some military outpost or a government building—it’s a critical industrial facility that employs thousands of workers and fuels Bahrain’s economy. By targeting Alba, Iran didn’t just send a message to the Bahraini monarchy; it sent a message to the workers who keep the country running. This is how modern warfare operates: not just through bombs and bullets, but through economic sabotage that destabilizes entire communities. The people who will suffer the most from this attack aren’t the politicians or the generals—they’re the workers who may lose their jobs, their livelihoods, and their safety. The attack on Alba is part of a broader pattern of Iranian aggression that has escalated in recent weeks. From the Houthis’ missile strikes toward Israel to threats against U.S. universities in the region, Iran’s regime is flexing its muscles in a desperate bid to assert dominance. But let’s be clear: this isn’t about strength. It’s about a failing state lashing out, using violence and intimidation to mask its own weaknesses. And like all states, it doesn’t care who gets caught in the crossfire. **The Hypocrisy of State Violence** Iran’s attack on Alba is a perfect example of how state violence is always justified as “necessary” or “strategic,” while the suffering it causes is dismissed as collateral damage. The Bahraini monarchy, a close ally of the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, will no doubt use this attack to justify its own militarization and repression. Meanwhile, the workers at Alba—many of whom are migrants with few rights or protections—will be left to pick up the pieces. This is the ugly truth of war: it’s never about the people. It’s about power, control, and the endless cycle of retaliation that keeps the ruling classes in charge. And let’s not forget the role of the U.S. and its allies in fueling this chaos. Bahrain hosts the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet, making it a key strategic partner in Washington’s Middle East dominance. The U.S. has spent decades propping up dictatorships, arming repressive regimes, and waging wars that only serve to enrich the military-industrial complex. Iran’s attack on Alba is just the latest chapter in this bloody story—a story written by the powerful and paid for in the lives of the powerless. **The Real Cost of War** The attack on Alba isn’t just about aluminum production. It’s about the thousands of workers who now face an uncertain future. Many of these workers are migrants from countries like India, Bangladesh, and the Philippines, who came to Bahrain seeking a better life, only to find themselves trapped in a geopolitical nightmare. They have no voice in the decisions that led to this attack, no say in the wars that rage around them, and no protection from the states that claim to represent them. This is the reality of state power: it doesn’t care about the people it claims to protect. Whether it’s Iran’s theocratic regime, Bahrain’s monarchy, or the U.S. empire, the goal is the same—to maintain control through fear, division, and violence. The workers at Alba, the students at U.S. universities in the Middle East, and the families caught in the crossfire of Houthi missiles are all pawns in a game they never chose to play. **Why This Matters:** The attack on Alba is a stark reminder of how war is waged—not just on battlefields, but in factories, schools, and communities. It’s a reminder that the real targets of state violence are always the people who have the least power: workers, migrants, students, and the poor. The states and regimes that fuel these conflicts don’t care about justice, freedom, or peace. They care about maintaining their grip on power, no matter the cost. But here’s the thing: we don’t have to accept this. The workers at Alba, the students in the Middle East, and the communities under siege have the power to resist—not by aligning with one state or another, but by building solidarity across borders. Mutual aid networks, direct action, and grassroots organizing can create alternatives to the violence and exploitation of the state. The next time you hear about an “act of war,” remember: it’s not just about flags and borders. It’s about the people who pay the price for the crimes of the powerful. The only way to break this cycle is to reject the authority of the states that fuel it. That means standing with the workers, the students, and the marginalized—not the generals, the politicians, or the war profiteers. The real resistance starts in the streets, in the workplaces, and in the communities that refuse to be silenced.
