Several Military and Law Enforcement Forces Killed and Wounded in Sistan and Baluchestan in Multiple Attacks

Following reports of attacks by unknown armed individuals in Sistan and Baluchestan province in recent days, another attack on a police station in one of the suburbs of Iranshahr resulted in an injury to one police officer and one of the attackers. In recent days, reports have emerged of armed assaults on military and law enforcement personnel of the Islamic Republic and police stations in various locations across Sistan and Baluchestan province. According to the Halosh news site, which covers news from Sistan and Baluchestan, on Sunday, October 8, armed individuals attacked the police station in Shahdraz, a suburb of Iranshahr. The ISNA news agency, citing Colonel Mehdi Rashnoudi, the police commander of Iranshahr, confirmed this incident and reported that one officer and one attacker were injured. The Halosh news site also reported two other attacks attributed to the Jaish al-Adl group against Islamic Republic law enforcement personnel on the same day. Members of Jaish al-Adl attacked the police station in the Domag area of Zahedan on Sunday morning. This armed group opposing the Islamic Republic claimed that in this attack, several law enforcement personnel at this station were killed or wounded. In another incident that occurred on Sunday evening, Jaish al-Adl forces targeted two vehicles of the Mersad forces in the Pashamg area of Rask. The official news agency of the Islamic Republic confirmed this incident, reporting the death of one conscript soldier and injuries to three others, including one soldier and two personnel. On the same day, at least two other members of the Islamic Republic's military and law enforcement forces were also killed by members of armed groups attributed to Jaish al-Adl. Reports indicate that in Khash, one member of the city's special forces was attacked by armed individuals and killed. The police command of Sistan and Baluchestan identified the deceased as Sergeant Ramin Valayati. In another development, during a clash between border guards at the Makki Hirmand police station and armed individuals, a border guard named Amir Mohammad Amiri was killed. According to Halosh, Jaish al-Adl claimed responsibility for all attacks on Sunday in Sistan and Baluchestan. This group has repeatedly clashed with the IRGC and border guards in Sistan and Baluchestan province, taking several of them hostage or killing them. This paramilitary group opposing the Iranian government is recognized as a 'terrorist organization' by the Islamic Republic and several Western governments, including the United States. Additionally, Halosh reported an incident of gunfire on Imam Khomeini Street in Zahedan, resulting in one death. According to this report, a 68-year-old Baloch religious activist named Jalal Mohammadi was shot multiple times in his vehicle and killed. Two other passengers in the vehicle were also injured. There has been no report yet on the identity and motives of the attackers. Two years ago, coinciding with the start of nationwide protests in Iran known as 'Women, Life, Freedom', news of an Iranian police officer's assault on a Baloch girl sparked widespread protests in this province. As protests escalated, on Friday, October 8, 2022, worshippers at the Makki Mosque in Zahedan were targeted by gunfire from a police station, resulting in many casualties. Baloch activists estimate the number of victims in this incident to be at least one hundred, while the provincial security council reported 35 deaths. While local people and Baloch activists held the IRGC and Islamic Republic law enforcement responsible for shooting at worshippers, the IRGC attributed the incident to Jaish al-Adl, a claim that was denied by this group. Three weeks after this incident, known as the 'Bloody Friday of Zahedan', Molavi Abdulhamid Ismailzahi, a Sunni cleric and the Imam of the Makki Grand Mosque in Zahedan, held Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, responsible for the massacre of protesters in Zahedan. The recent attacks coincide with the second anniversary of this deadly incident.