MANAMA — Saudi-led forces sent to Bahrain to help crush anti-government protests will remain even after emergency rule is lifted next month, the head of the military said in a move that is likely to deepen regional tensions with other countries.

Bahrain's king said the emergency rule will be lifted June 1. But the military chief's statements suggest a heavy security presence will remain along with the Saudi-led troops, AP reported.
Many countries condemned the 1,500-strong Gulf Arab force in Bahrain as an ""occupation"".
The Bahrain military commander, Sheik Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, also threatened even harsher crackdowns if demonstrators return to the streets in the strategic U.S. ally, which is home to the Navy's 5th Fleet.
""I say to those who did not get the message, 'If you return we will come back, stronger this time,'"" Sheik Ahmed was quoted as saying by the official Bahrain News Agency.
He further claimed that protesters were ""given pills which affected their minds and made them do unusual things"" — a new allegation that echoed assertions by Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi that his opponents included young people on hallucinogenic pills placed ""in their coffee with milk, like Nescafe.""
Meanwhile, in a special security court set up under martial law-style rule imposed in March, the expected resumption of a trial against 21 opposition leaders and human rights activists was adjourned until May 16. Fourteen of the suspects are in custody and the rest are being tried in absentia.
Also Thursday, the security court convicted another opposition supporter on charges of attempted murder of a police officer and participation in a protest aimed at disrupting public order. It added that the protester, Hamad Yousef Kazim, was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
--------Targeting religious sites continues
Meanwhile, Saudi-backed Bahraini forces attacked another mosque in the Persian Gulf sheikdom.
Bahraini forces reportedly vandalized the mosque in Diraz late on Thursday, Press TV reported.
The Bahraini government has destroyed a number of mosques in continuation of its aggressive crackdown on pro-democracy protesters.
At least 28 mosques and religious institutions have been destroyed in the Persian Gulf state since the crackdown on Shia-led protests began in Mid-March, opposition group, Al Wefaq, told Al Jazeera.
Bahraini police also carried out raids on girls' schools, detaining and beating them, during its crackdown, secret filming by Al Jazeera's Stratford revealed.
At least 30 people have been killed since the protests began in February, inspired by revolts against autocratic leaders in Tunisia and Egypt. Hundreds of protesters, opposition leaders, human rights activists, athletes and professionals such as doctors and lawyers have been detained