Iran forces kill 6 terrorists in restive southeast, arrest two

Iran’s intelligence forces killed six militants and arrested two in restive Sistan and Baluchestan province after deadly attacks by Jaish ul-Adl Sunni militants left several police forces dead, local authorities announced on Saturday. Three Iranian security forces were wounded during the clash which took several hours. According to a statement published on the ministry’s website, members of the terror team, seven non-Iranian nationals, had entered Iran through the country’s eastern border during the past days.

The statement added the members were equipped with different kinds of weapons, ammunition and explosive devices, saying among the items seized from the terrorists were laser-guided grenade launchers, US-made machine guns, grenades, explosive vests, two-way radios, ammunition as well as a number of vehicles and motorcycles. It said the available evidence was indicative of the terrorist cell’s Israeli-affiliated nature.

Sistan and Baluchestan, a province bordering Pakistan and Afghanistan, has suffered several terrorist attacks targeting both civilians and security forces in recent years. Jaish ul-Adl has been designated a terrorist organization by both Iran and the United States.