In a devastating strikes on Iran’s IRGC forces, at least 11 security force members lost their lives in Sistan-Baluchestan.
According to state media reports, strikes on Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) forces resulted in a great loss.The assault, carried out by Jaish al-Adl (Army of Justice), a Sunni armed group, also claimed the lives of 16 of its members in overnight clashes with security forces.
The towns of Chabahar and Rask in Sistan-Baluchestan, bordering Afghanistan and Pakistan, were the primary targets of the attack. The assailants, armed with suicide vests, launched coordinated attacks on various security and military compounds, engaging in hours-long battles with security forces.
Deputy Interior Minister Majid Mirahmadi revealed that despite the assailants’ attempts, they failed to seize control of the Guards headquarters in Chabahar and Rask. Additionally, ten security officers sustained injuries during the fighting in the predominantly Sunni Muslim region.
Strikes on Iran’s IRGC Forces come at a critical juncture for Iran, following a suspected Israeli missile strike on its consulate in Damascus, Syria, prompting Iran’s pledge for retaliation.
Among the casualties were Brigadier-General Mohammad Reza Zahedi and his deputy, General Mohammad Hadi Hajriahimi, both senior commanders in the IRGC’s Quds Force.
Jaish al-Adl, formed in 2012 and designated as a “terror” group by Iran, has been responsible for previous attacks in the region. In December, the group orchestrated a deadly assault that claimed the lives of 11 officers at a police station in Rask. Subsequently, they struck again, killing an officer on January 10.
In response, Iran targeted two bases of Jaish al-Adl in Pakistan with missiles. The group claims to advocate for greater rights and improved living conditions for ethnic minority Baluchis in Shia-dominated Iran. However, their actions have led to unrest and frequent clashes between Iranian security forces and Sunni fighters, exacerbating tensions in the region.
Sistan-Baluchestan has long been plagued by instability, serving as a battleground for clashes not only between security forces and insurgents but also as a transit route for narcotics smuggled from Afghanistan to the West and beyond
