Conflicting Reports on Explosion in Chabahar Ahead of Nowruz

While some news sources in Iran reported an explosion of a 'sound bomb' in Chabahar on Saturday, March 19, Al Arabiya announced without details that the group 'Ansar al-Furqan' attacked the 'Iranian military' Nowruz celebration in the Chabahar region on Sunday. According to this report, the group stated in a statement provided to Al Arabiya's website that it targeted a 'gathering of Iranian forces' in the Chabahar economic zone. The report did not mention details of the attack or casualties. However, Iranian media have not published any reports on this matter. Fars News Agency reported that the explosion of a 'sound bomb' in the Tis area of Chabahar at 21:00 on Saturday, March 19, resulted in one civilian injury. Nevertheless, Ahmad Ali Mohibati, the governor of Chabahar, denied reports about the 'sound bomb' explosion in the city, stating that a mother and her child were injured due to a 'homemade grenade' thrown by several youths. Meanwhile, Hamid Ali Mobaraki, the CEO of the Chabahar Free Zone, stated differently to IRNA that the explosion of 'firecrackers left over from Chaharshanbe Suri' in the Chabahar Free Zone caused injuries to a four-year-old boy, a man, and a woman. The group 'Ansar al-Furqan' claimed in 2014 to have attacked a cargo train of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, but Iranian officials denied this claim. In recent years, this group has also claimed responsibility for attacks on several Iranian border guards. The Iranian Ministry of Intelligence previously announced that Hisham Azizi, known as Abu Hafs al-Balushi, the commander of 'Ansar al-Furqan,' and two of his companions were killed on Wednesday, April 21, 2015, in Sistan and Baluchestan province. Reports indicate that 'Ansar al-Furqan' was formed from the union of two groups, 'Ansar Iran' and 'Furqan.' The 'Ansar Iran' group is a splinter faction from 'Jundallah' following the execution of its leader, Abdulmalek Rigi. Sistan and Baluchestan province, which borders Pakistan and Afghanistan, has witnessed incidents such as bombings and armed attacks on security and law enforcement forces in recent years. In December 2010, a suicide bombing in Chabahar during Ashura mourning ceremonies resulted in at least 38 deaths and dozens of injuries.