TEHRAN – The Southeast Regional Headquarters of the Islamic Revolutionary Security Force (IRGC) Ground Forces has announced that 52 members of the terrorist network involved in the sabotage have been killed or arrested during a recent security operation in Iran’s southeastern Sistan and Kash County, Balchestan province.
It was noted that five of these individuals were members of terror cells associated with Zionists identified as foreign operatives involved in drone obstruction.
According to a statement issued by the QUDS Regional Headquarters of the IRGC Ground Forces, the operation was part of a broader campaign to dismantle foreign intelligence reporting agencies, particularly networks associated with the Zionist regime. The operation, which involves close coordination with Iran’s security and intelligence reporting forces, began early Tuesday after surveillance confirmed the presence of hostile elements in the region.
During the pursuit, many local civilians were injured after failing to comply with security recommendations issued by ground forces.
The IRGC statement stated, “As part of an ongoing effort to stand up to the elements of mercenary affiliated with the Zionist regime, most foreigners who confirmed their ties with Israeli intelligence reporting agencies have been identified as participants in obstruction measures, including drone-based operations that undermine Iran’s internal stability.”
“Despite extensive ground efforts, these five individuals have been able to escape and are now massive. Efforts to find and arrest them are ongoing. Unfortunately, several local residents have been injured after ignoring repeated warnings from security guards regarding the operational zone.”
This latest development comes in the fierce efforts of the Islamic Republic to detect and dismantle spies and disrupt cells operated by hostile foreign forces.
Tehran claims that these networks exist as tools of information services, particularly the Zionist regime, which are often used to operate under the covers of media, NGOs, or ethnic affiliations, against the Islamic Republic. The involvement of drone technology and penetration tactics highlights the sophisticated nature of the threat.
Despite Iran’s legal security concerns, some Western media and opposition-related organizations have tried to distort the country’s anti-spy campaign by portraying it as a crackdown on political opposition. Iranian officials strongly reject such stories, emphasizing that the individuals targeting these operations are not civic activists or peaceful critics, but armed operatives engaged in destructive and terrorist acts.
The IRGC once again called for citizens, particularly those in the southeastern border area, to remain vigilant, and to report suspicious activity through official Hotlines 110, 113 and 114.
The statement concludes: “National security is a collective responsibility that relies on vigilance, cooperation and trust between people and the military. The enemy of the Islamic Republic is deploying all the tools available to destabilize our country.