Clashes during a raid in Iran’s restive southeast killed at least 13 militants as well as a Revolutionary Guard, state media reported Wednesday.
A Revolutionary Guards statement carried by state television said that “13 terrorists have been killed and a number of others arrested” in Sistan-Baluchistan province, which has seen a spate of violent clashes in recent weeks.
The broadcaster said that some of those killed were suspected of being behind an ambush reported on Friday that killed five policemen in Iranshahr.
Iranshahr is one of three cities, alongside Khash and Saravan, where the Guards’ statement said security operations were carried out.
“During the operations, unfortunately, one IRGC member was martyred and another was injured,” Revolutionary Guards commander Hassan Mortazavi was quoted as saying by state TV.
Mortazavi added that a “kidnapped citizen was released and returned to their family”.
Sistan-Baluchistan, which borders Pakistan and Afghanistan, has long been a flashpoint for clashes between security forces and armed groups, including drug traffickers and separatists.
Home to a large Sunni Muslim Baluch community, the province is one of the poorest regions of Shiite-majority Iran.
Sunni jihadist group Jaish al-Adl (Army of Justice) claimed responsibility for last week’s ambush, in a post on the Telegram messaging app.
Iran regularly reports deadly attacks in the province targeting police or Revolutionary Guards, which authorities often blame on Sunni militant groups, including Jaish al-Adl.
On Saturday, Iranian forces killed six militants in another raid in the province, saying they were members of a group linked to arch enemy Israel.
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© Agence France-Presse
