WASHINGTON (AP) — The State Department says it is resuming aid to the military in Bahrain, which has been withheld since Bahrain cracked down on demonstrations in 2011.

Bahrain was still cited in the department's recently released human rights report for its curbs on protesters and arrests of students and journalists. But department spokesman John Kirby says the Gulf nation has made "some meaningful progress on human rights reforms and reconciliation," including the release of a number of political prisoners.

Bahrain is home to the U.S. Navy's 5th fleet and has flown airstrike missions over Syria as part of the anti-Islamic State coalition.

The State Department says that military sales to Bahrain since 2000 total $1.4 billion.