At least 27 people, including 11 members of the security forces, have been killed in a militant attack on the headquarters of the Revolutionary Guards in Iran's southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchistan. Suspected Sunni Muslim militants are believed to have carried out the assault, as reported by the British news agency Reuters.

According to state media, overnight clashes erupted between the Jaish al-Adl group and security forces in the towns of Chabahar and Rask. The predominantly impoverished Sunni Muslim region witnessed the violent confrontation, resulting in injuries to at least 10 individuals.

Deputy Interior Minister Majid Mirahmadi revealed to state TV that the militants launched operations to seize control of the Revolutionary Guard headquarters in Chabahar and Rask.

Jaish Al Adal, the group behind the attack, has cited grievances related to rights and living conditions for the minority Baluchi tribe in Shia-dominated Iran. The organization has claimed responsibility for numerous assaults on Iranian security forces in Sistan-Baluchistan in recent years.

The region, which shares borders with Afghanistan and Pakistan, has been a hotspot for clashes between Iranian security forces and Sunni militants and drug traffickers. Notably, it serves as a crucial transit route for drug trafficking from Afghanistan to the west and beyond.

This is not the first instance of such violence in the province. In December last year, a militant attack on a police station in the city of Rusk resulted in the deaths of at least 11 security personnel.

The latest attack underscores the ongoing challenges faced by Iranian authorities in maintaining security and stability in the restive southeastern region.

 

 

 

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A Global News Agency