Watch: GCC armed forces enter Bahrain to quell protests

Armed troops of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) entered Bahrain days ago amidst escalating pro-democracy protests.

A large contingent of GCC military units drove into the Arab country Saturday -- as filmed in the video below, which was posted to YouTube by user 000friendly.

The Saudi-headquartered GCC is a political and economic alliance between six Arab nations in the Persian Gulf: Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.

According to the Global Intelligence Report, the units that entered Bahrain are "from the GCC's Peninsula Shield force, which was established to combat foreign military aggression, not to police internal ructions in member states."

Multiple reports indicate that these units are staffed exclusively by Saudi armed forces, though the UAE has reportedly sent police units under the auspices of the GCC as well.

The Shi'ite-led opposition in the Bahrain has ramped up its efforts in recent days, shutting down financial centers and occupying parts of the country, according to media reports.

An image captured by Bahrain TV appears to confirm that the vehicles filmed in the video are the same ones that rolled into the Arab nation.

Watch the video below, via Chris Hayes.