A Commander of the IRGC Killed by Gunfire on the Zahedan-Khash Route

Reports from Iranian media indicate that a commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) was shot dead on the Zahedan-Khash route in Sistan and Baluchestan province. According to the IRNA news agency, citing an informed source, Rouhollah Ali, the commander of the Kourin battalion of the 110th Brigade of Salman IRGC, was killed in an armed attack on Tuesday night while heading to the Kourin village to inspect his forces. The news agency referred to the assailants as 'terrorists.' The report states that this battalion commander was shot multiple times. IRNA mentions that the informed source did not provide further details about the identity of the attackers. Meanwhile, Fars news agency referred to the attackers as 'Wahhabis,' adding that two of the assailants were killed by IRGC forces. The Iran newspaper website also referred to 'Takfiri' groups as responsible for the attack. The Kourin area is located 80 kilometers west of Zahedan. Iranian state media uses the term 'Wahhabi' to associate Sunni opposition groups with Saudi Arabia. Wahhabism is an interpretation of Islam that opposes any form of innovation in the religion and is accepted by the House of Saud, which adheres to it. Previously, Iranian military and security officials have accused Arab countries in the region of 'interference and promoting insecurity' in southeastern Iran. Mohsen Rezaei, former IRGC commander and secretary of the Expediency Discernment Council, and Ali Shamkhani, head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, have accused Saudi Arabia of attempting to create insecurity in southeastern Iran and 'sending weapons' and supporting 'terrorist groups' in the region. In recent years, Tehran and Riyadh have repeatedly accused each other of supporting 'terrorism.' Sistan and Baluchestan province has seen numerous clashes between Iranian military forces and groups that the Islamic Republic labels as 'bandits and terrorist groups.' In this context, the arrest of 'two Pakistani nationals' on charges of 'planning sabotage' in Iran has been reported, linking the promotion of insecurity in southeastern Iran to 'some Arab countries.' The governor of Khash announced the arrest of a 10-member team 'for sabotage at two important security centers.' The commander of the IRGC Ground Forces stated that two members of Jaish al-Adl were arrested, with six killed in clashes with the police.