Clashes between armed assailants and Iranian security forces in Sistan-Baluchistan province resulted in the deaths of at least 10 security personnel, with several others injured, Iranian state media reported on Thursday.
Iranian officials said armed members of the Jaish al-Adl group attacked military facilities in Chabahar and Rask, cities located in the province bordering Afghanistan and Pakistan.
All 18 of the armed attackers were killed Thursday morning before they could seize control of any location, Iranian officials said.
“They were aiming to seize the army’s headquarters in Rask and Chabahar,” Iranian Deputy Interior Minister Majed Mir-Ahmadi was quoted by Iranian state media as saying.
“But they failed in their malicious objectives by the vigilant security forces,” Ahmadi said.
Iranian state media reported that drones were deployed by Iranian forces to locate and neutralize the attackers.
An Iranian journalist reported 11 forces killed, including seven Iranian Revolutionary Guard members.
In a purported statement circulated on social media, the militant group claimed to have killed nearly 200 Iranian forces.
Jaish al-Adl, a militant group affiliated with the Baluchi minority, seeks greater autonomy for the Baluchistan region, which straddles the borders of Iran and Pakistan.
The United States, Iran and several other countries have designated Jaish al-Adl a terrorist organization.
In December, the militant group reportedly killed 11 Iranian security personnel in the town of Rask.
In retaliation, Iranian planes bombed suspected Jaish al-Adl locations within Pakistan's Baluchistan province in January.
In response, the Pakistani military bombed the Iranian side of Baluchistan, allegedly targeting militant positions, resulting in several casualties.
Pakistan condemned Thursday’s attacks in Iran.
“We would like to work with Iran to find joint solutions to the terror threat,” said Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, a spokesperson for Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry.
