Iranian forces killed four individuals suspected of planning an attack in Saravan on Sunday, following a deadly jihadist raid that claimed the lives of at least 10 police officers the previous day. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps stated that three soldiers were also killed during the operation in Sistan-Baluchestan province.
The events highlight ongoing security challenges in Iran's Sistan-Baluchestan province, a region prone to cross-border militant activity and ethnic tensions, with implications for regional stability and Iran's internal security.
Iranian forces killed four individuals suspected of planning a "terrorist operation" in the southeastern city of Saravan on Sunday, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced. The operation also resulted in the deaths of three Iranian soldiers.
The IRGC stated that its forces targeted a "professional terrorist team" that was allegedly planning an attack in Saravan, located in Sistan-Baluchestan province. The fighting reportedly erupted after security forces raided a house used by the group.
This operation followed a deadly jihadist attack on Saturday in Taftan county, also in Sistan and Baluchestan, which killed at least 10 police officers. The Sunni jihadist group Jaish al-Adl, which is based in Pakistan and active in the region, claimed responsibility for that attack.
Sistan and Baluchestan province, situated about 1,200 kilometers from the capital Tehran, shares a long and porous border with Pakistan and Afghanistan. The region is one of Iran's poorest and is home to a significant Baloch ethnic minority, who are predominantly Sunni Muslims, in contrast to Iran's Shia majority. The area has seen recurring clashes involving Iranian security forces, Baluch rebels, radical Sunni groups, and drug traffickers.
The IRGC also accused the United States and Israel of contributing to insecurity in the Sistan-Baluchestan province.