Jihadists Kill One Policeman in Southeast Iran: Media Reports

Iranian media reported on Sunday that jihadists have killed one policeman in the restive southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchistan, with three assailants also reported dead.

According to the Tasnim news agency, “A policeman from Saravan was killed while terrorists were attempting to enter the police station” in the Sistan-Baluchistan region.

Details of the Attack

Tasnim identified the attackers as members of the Sunni jihadist group Jaish al-Adl (Arabic for “Army of Justice”), which is based in Pakistan and operates in Iran’s southeastern region.

The report added that “three terrorists were killed and two were arrested” during the incident.

Background on the Region and Conflict

Sistan-Baluchistan shares a long border with Pakistan and Afghanistan and has frequently been the scene of violent clashes between Iranian security forces and insurgents or smugglers.

The province is home to a significant population of the Baloch ethnic minority, who practise Sunni Islam within predominantly Shia Iran.

Recent Attacks in the Province

• On 26 July, gunmen stormed a courthouse in Zahedan, the provincial capital, killing at least six people. The attack was claimed by Jaish al-Adl.
• In October, one of the deadliest attacks in the province resulted in the deaths of 10 police officers.