Tehran – In a series of joint operations early this morning, Iranian security forces have killed at least 13 militants and apprehended several others in the troubled southeastern province of Sistan and Balochistan.

These raids come as a direct and strong reaction to a recent string of deadly assaults on police, including an ambush that resulted in the deaths of five officers.

According to a statement from the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC), shared by state media, operations took place in the cities of Iranshahr, Khash, and Saravan. The statement confirmed, “So far, 13 terrorists have been killed and several others captured.”

The broadcaster added that some of those killed were suspected of being involved in the deadly ambush on Friday in Iranshahr, which left five policemen dead amid rising violence.

Jaish al-Adl’s Involvement and the Ongoing Violence

The militant group Jaish al-Adl (JaA), or Army of Justice, in a post on their Telegram channel, has taken responsibility for a deadly ambush that took place last week. They also said that some of their fighters had been killed in the encounter with security forces and that they would come up with more details as things happened.

This is the third deadly attack that has been attributed to JaA in the last month, which has increased the tension in the region.

Sistan and Balochistan province, located on the border of Pakistan and Afghanistan, has been a hotbed of conflict for some time now. Poor terrain and porous borders have contributed to it being a major drug trafficking route as well as a hideout for separatist groups.

The province is dominated by a large Sunni Muslim Baluch population and is one of the poorest regions of Iran, which has led to continued frustration and unrest. Iranian officials regularly announce fatal attacks against their police or the Revolutionary Guards, often accusing groups such as Jaish al-Adl of the violence.

Escalating Security Measures

These recent operations are part of a wider and more intense security crackdown by Iran’s military and intelligence services. Just last Saturday, Iranian forces reported the killing of six militants in another raid in the same province, claiming these individuals were affiliated with a group connected to their primary adversary, Israel.

The timing of these two high-casualty operations within a few days underscores Tehran’s determination to address what it perceives as serious security threats from its southeastern border.

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