An Iranian police officer was killed on Thursday when gunmen attacked a patrol near Zahedan in Baluchistan, the latest in a series of deadly attacks and clashes involving security forces in southeastern Iran.
Zahedan governor Jamshid Rakhshani-Nasab said a vehicle belonging to a police commando unit came under fire in the Nosratabad area and that officers returned fire.
Sistan-Baluchestan police said the patrol was attacked on the main road in the Lakhshak area while carrying out a security mission. The officer killed was identified as Vahid Enayat.
Police said several attackers were wounded and fled the scene. Security forces were searching the area for those responsible, according to the statement.
Army minibus attacked on Makran coast
In a separate incident on Thursday, gunmen attacked a minibus carrying personnel from the Iranian Army’s 88th Armored Division stationed along the Makran coast, Mehr news agency reported.
The division said the personnel were traveling for a shift change when the vehicle came under fire. One person, identified as Mohammadreza Okati, was killed and three others were wounded.
Series of attacks in Baluchistan
No group immediately took responsibility for Thursday’s attack.
The incident came three days after gunmen attacked two military vehicles in Bampur, also in Sistan-Baluchestan. Rights group Haalvsh reported at least three people killed in that attack, while Iranian state media reported lower casualty figures.
Last week, another roadside attack near Zahedan killed several people, according to differing accounts from Iranian authorities and Haalvsh. The IRGC confirmed that one of its fighters was killed in a bombing, while Haalvsh reported a higher toll and said those killed were members of the Iran-backed Fatemiyoun militia.
Repeated clashes in the southeast
The province has also seen recent fighting in Rask, Saravan and other areas, including attacks on police positions and security facilities.
Iranian authorities regularly describe armed groups operating in Sistan-Baluchestan as terrorist organizations. The province has seen repeated armed attacks, insurgent activity and clashes between security forces and gunmen in recent weeks.