Two members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards were killed and three others wounded in clashes with armed militants in the western city of Sarvabad in Kordestan province, the Guards said on Tuesday.
The Beit al-Moqaddas unit in Kordestan province said the assault took place late Monday, when attackers threw a grenade at a Guard post in the town’s Hezbollah Square area.
It identified the dead as cleric Alireza Valizadeh and Ayoub Shiri, describing them as security personnel. Three others were taken to the hospital with injuries.
The unit blamed “mercenary terrorists linked to global arrogance” and said security forces were pursuing the assailants.
“The martyrdom and injury of several of the brave men of Sarvabad is proof that the security of Iran rests on the courage of selfless defenders,” the statement said. “This kind of terrorist action will never weaken our resolve to safeguard the people.”
Sources close to Kurdish parties in Iran confirmed the report to Iran International.
According to these sources, “after the grenades exploded, gunfire was heard for several minutes, but no one was injured as a result of the shooting.”
They added, “the first attack was carried out by throwing grenades, which killed two security forces, and after about an hour the clashes ended. So far, no group has claimed responsibility for the operation.”
Last month, armed men opened fire on a police vehicle in Sistan-Baluchestan province, killing at least two officers.
The provinces of Kordestan and Sistan-Baluchestan,home to ethnic Kurdish and Baluch minorities, have long seen insurgent and militant activity against Tehran.
Kordestan, bordering Iraq, is a hotspot for sporadic attacks by Kurdish armed groups seeking autonomy. In Sistan-Baluchestan, Sunni militant factions such as Jaish al-Adl have staged frequent ambushes on security forces near the Pakistan and Afghanistan borders.
Tehran blames “foreign-backed terrorists” for the unrest and has intensified security operations in both areas amid wider regional instability.
