TEHRAN – Iran’s intelligence agency has dismantled a cell of terrorists in the southeastern Sistan and Balchestan province, killing six of its members and arresting two others during a major counterterrorist operation.
The provincial intelligence agency announced on Saturday that its forces had hampered the terrorist group after extremists recently crossed from the eastern border to Iran. Security forces tracked and identified them before they could carry out their mission.
According to the statement, the cell consisted of seven non-Iranian operatives armed with a laser-guided RPG-7 launcher, US-made M4 and M16 assault rifles, hand-grims, hand-grims launchers, explosive vests, hand-held radios and a large cache of RPG-preventive rounds. Several vehicles and motorcycles were also seized.
A heavy hours of firefight was followed, killing six terrorists and two were captured alive. Two Iranian intelligence agents and one police officer were injured. Officials said the group had planned to target “critical facilities” in eastern Iran using training methods and mock-up models similar to tactics related to Israeli moss.
Five police officers killed in terrorist attacks in Sistan and Balchestan
The crackdown comes amidst a surge in state terrorist violence. Five members of Iranian law enforcement were killed on Friday when armed assailants ambushed two police patrol units along Kash Iranshaal Road. The attackers fired fire before fleeing the scene.
The victims were later identified as Captain Golamleza Vardani, Mohamadreza Rahimi, Mohamad Norji, Hassan Tavara and soldier Hadi Royai.
The so-called Jaish Al-Adl Terrorist Group quickly argued for the ambush. Security forces have launched a Manhunt to track those involved.
Iran’s UN ambassador, Amir Said Irabani, has condemned the attack on UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and UN Security Council President Eloi Alfaro de Alba. He urged the UN and the Security Council to condemn the incident “on the strongest possible conditions,” and warned that double standards or selective condemnation of terrorism only undermines the council’s credibility.
Jaish Al-Adl, who has been carrying out numerous deadly operations in recent years, mainly in Sistan and Balkestan, said it was behind the shooting in Iranshaal County last week, which killed one police officer.
The province, which shares a long, porous border with Pakistan, was a frequent target of terrorism. Iranian officials have repeatedly declared that foreign intelligence agencies, including Mossad, are supporting the groups behind such attacks.
Last October, 10 Iranian law enforcement officials were killed in one of the region’s most deadly attacks in recent years. Jaish Al-Adl also argued that he was responsible for the assault.