Pakistan's Retaliatory Attack on 'Seven Locations Inside Iran'; '9 People' Killed

A Pakistani security official stated on Thursday to CNN that the country targeted 'seven locations inside Iran' in retaliatory attacks. Reuters also published a statement from the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which claimed that the country targeted 'separatist militants' on Iranian soil through 'a series of fully coordinated and precise military attacks,' killing 'a number of terrorists.' The ministry described the purpose of the attacks as 'ensuring the security and national interests of Pakistan' while asserting that it 'fully respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iran.' Meanwhile, Iranian news agencies reported early Thursday that Alireza Marhamati, the security and police deputy of Sistan and Baluchestan province, announced that in a 'missile attack' from Pakistan on the 'area' of Saravan County, 'nine people,' including two men, three women, and four children, were killed. Marhamati claimed they were 'non-Iranian.' Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi also confirmed this claim. Another report indicated the 'destruction' of several residential units in the attack area. Additionally, Nasser Kan'ani, the spokesperson for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, condemned Pakistan's actions, stating that the 'Charge d'Affaires of the Pakistani Embassy' in Tehran would be summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. An 'informed source' in an interview with the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) strongly condemned these attacks, stating that the Islamic Republic 'demands an immediate explanation from Pakistani officials regarding this incident.' Hours before Iranian officials confirmed the occurrence of attacks on Iranian territory, a page attributed to the Pakistani army on the social media platform 'X' announced that it had attacked 'terrorist' bases in Sistan and Baluchestan, Iran, causing significant damage. The Halosh news agency also reported that the Hak Abad and Shamsar areas in Saravan County were targeted in missile attacks. Saravan, part of Sistan and Baluchestan, is located 347 kilometers southeast of Zahedan, the provincial capital, and borders Pakistan. These attacks occurred two days after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched a 'missile and drone' attack into Pakistan, claiming to target positions of the armed group 'Jaish al-Adl' in that country. The Pakistani government condemned the Islamic Republic's attack on its territory in a statement on Tuesday, January 26, asserting that 'two innocent children' were killed and three girls were injured in this attack. Pakistan also summoned its ambassador from Tehran in protest and canceled all meetings between high-ranking officials of the country and the Islamic Republic of Iran. Iranian officials have repeatedly stated that 'Jaish al-Adl' takes refuge in Pakistan and uses that country's territory to attack inside Iran. The group Jundallah and all its new names, including Jaish al-Adl, are listed as terrorist organizations by the United States. On Wednesday, the public relations office of the IRGC's Quds Headquarters in Southeast Iran reported the killing of one of its members in Sistan and Baluchestan province. According to this announcement, Hossein Ali Javadanfar, a member of the Salman Corps of Sistan and Baluchestan, was shot and killed on Wednesday evening, January 27, on the road from Khash to Zahedan. The Quds Headquarters described Javadanfar as a 'cultural expert of the IRGC' with an 'administrative mission' to 'follow up on cultural activities' during his trip to Saravan County. The announcement stated: 'Efforts to identify the perpetrator or perpetrators of this act are ongoing.' The Halosh website, which covers news related to Sistan and Baluchestan, referred to the killed IRGC member as the 'deputy of the Saravan Corps,' who was killed by armed individuals on the Saravan-Khash axis. Reports also indicated that occupants of a vehicle belonging to the IRGC were shot dead on the Zahedan axis near the Junabad checkpoint. No individual or group has yet claimed responsibility for these attacks.