IRGC Reports Destruction of Armed Group in Sistan and Baluchestan

The Public Relations of the Ground Forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced the destruction of an armed group in the general area of Qasr Qand in Sistan and Baluchestan. In a statement released on Thursday, June 15, it was reported that during an operation in the heights of Qasr Qand, in addition to the destruction of a vehicle laden with 600 kilograms of explosives, five ready-to-use suicide bombs and over 700 kilograms of explosive materials were discovered and seized by IRGC forces. The statement emphasized that the operation to pursue 'fleeing terrorists' in the area continues. According to the report, forces from the IRGC, police, and the Ministry of Intelligence participated in this confrontation. The IRGC's public relations statement did not mention the number of casualties on either side involved in the conflict. It stated that 'anti-terror operations will continue until the complete destruction of the remnants of the fleeing Takfiri terrorists, and further news will be announced subsequently.' The Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) referred to this armed group as 'the most equipped terrorist team in terms of explosive materials' that was ambushing the IRGC and Quds Force in the mountainous region of Qasr Qand. In a separate incident, on Thursday morning, Mahmoud Alavi, the Minister of Intelligence, reported the death of one of the ministry's agents during a clash with the 'Ansar al-Furqan' forces in Zahedan. The 'Ansar al-Furqan' group is a Sunni jihadist group in Sistan and Baluchestan that, according to Reuters, had previously threatened to carry out suicide attacks in retaliation for executed Sunnis. Alavi stated that during his tenure as Minister of Intelligence, more than 120 operations had been conducted, adding that the deceased, who was from Gilan, is the first individual from this ministry to be killed in recent years during an operation. Alavi mentioned that during this operation, two individuals were killed, five were injured, and seven were arrested, with two of the detainees being nationals from neighboring countries. In a video published by some Iranian news agencies from the clash on Wednesday, a street can be seen with a group of people gathered and gunfire audible. It appears that a citizen-journalist captured this amateur footage. The clash on Wednesday afternoon occurred two days after another confrontation between Iranian police and armed individuals in the Rudan County of Hormozgan Province, which left four dead. The Iranian police stated that during the confrontation with 'armed bandits,' a Daesh flag was also discovered along with other equipment. Following the attacks on June 7 against the Imam Khomeini Mausoleum and the Islamic Consultative Assembly, Iran has reported an increase in security measures and widespread arrests of individuals suspected of links to the Islamic State group or Daesh. Daesh has claimed responsibility for the attacks in Tehran and threatened to launch more operations against Iran. In this context, clashes between armed individuals and intelligence forces in Chabahar resulted in four deaths. A member of parliament stated that some perpetrators of the attack on border guards have been identified. The Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of Iran warned Pakistan.