Attack by 'Jaish al-Adl' Group on Three Military Bases in Rask and Chabahar; 11 Government Forces Reported Killed So Far

The armed group 'Jaish al-Adl' besieged the command center of the IRGC in Rask for several hours during a 'chain operation' in the south of Sistan and Baluchestan province on Thursday morning, April 5. They attacked the IRGC base and a police station in Chabahar. The state news agency Fars reported, citing an 'informed source', that 11 border guards, police, IRGC, and Basij forces have been killed so far. News sources indicate that at least 15 attackers have also been killed. Although Iranian officials claim the situation is under control, various reports have emerged about ongoing clashes approximately 12 hours after the attack began. The Halosh news agency, covering Sistan and Baluchestan, reported that clashes between military forces and Jaish al-Adl members in Chabahar and Rask have continued for more than six hours. The armed group also claimed on its Telegram channels and website that it had seized IRGC bases in Rask and Chabahar, as well as a police station and the city's intelligence office, gaining control over their weapon depots. However, Alireza Marhamati, the security and police deputy of Sistan and Baluchestan, denied the entry of Jaish al-Adl forces into the IRGC base in Rask, stating that the group attempted to enter the base during the armed attack but were unsuccessful due to exchanges of fire with military personnel, although clashes in the area are ongoing. Domestic news agencies also reported that Abbas Mir, the deputy of police station 11 in Chabahar, who was injured in the clash with Jaish al-Adl, died hours later. Received images also indicate the presence of surveillance drones over the conflict area. Iranian officials have repeatedly stated that 'Jaish al-Adl' takes refuge in Pakistan and uses its territory to launch attacks inside Iran. The group Jundallah and all its new names, including Jaish al-Adl, are listed as terrorist organizations by the United States. Amnesty International reported on Wednesday that the increase in drug-related executions in Iran is 'staggering', noting that the Baluch minority makes up only about 5% of Iran's population but accounted for 29% (138 individuals) of drug-related executions in 2023. Religious officials in Sistan and Baluchestan, including Molavi Abdolhamid, the Sunni leader of the province, have repeatedly urged Iranian officials to plan for alleviating deprivation, poverty, and unemployment in the province without discrimination. Armed individuals killed 9 foreign nationals near the Iran-Pakistan border. The U.S. emphasized the need for 'restraint' from Iran and Pakistan, stating that they do not want the clashes to escalate. A member of the IRGC was shot dead in Sistan and Baluchestan. A military member was killed in an attack on a post in Rask; 'Jaish al-Adl' claimed responsibility for the attack. An armed attack in Rask, Sistan and Baluchestan, resulted in the deaths of 12 police officers.