IRGC officer, four gunmen killed in attack on military drill

Ahmad Shafaei, spokesperson for the drills, said that four militants were killed in the clash. Meanwhile, a Baluch activist Telegram channel reported that several civilians, including family members, were targeted and injured during the clashes, blaming IRGC forces.

IRGC-affiliated media, however, said that three civilians, including two women, were hurt by the assailants.

The incident comes amid a surge in violence in the region. Last month, the Sunni Baloch insurgent group Jaish al-Adl killed ten Iranian border guards in Taftan County. The United Nations Security Council condemned that attack as a "cowardly terrorist act."

Sistan-Baluchestan has been the site of frequent attacks linked to Jaish al-Adl, a group known for ambushes, bombings, and other violent actions that have led to civilian and security personnel casualties. Jaish al-Adl advocates for an independent Balochistan, spanning Baloch communities across the Iran-Pakistan border, and has carried out numerous armed attacks in Iran’s southeast.

The Baloch community, along with the Kurds, is among Iran’s most marginalized groups. Sistan-Baluchestan is one of the country’s poorest regions, marked by high unemployment and a lack of infrastructure. As a result, many residents have turned to smuggling fuel, goods, and, in some cases, drugs as a vital means of survival.