Iranian General Killed in Sistan and Baluchestan Province Clash

A joint operation by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the Ministry of Intelligence, and Iranian police resulted in the death of Brigadier General Hossein Zarifi on Wednesday. Zarifi, the commander of the Shahid Sajjad operational base, was killed during a clash with an armed cell in the Jihadabad area of Saravan, located in the Sistan and Baluchestan province near the Pakistan border.

Iranian authorities reported that the operation targeted a group planning an assassination and resulted in the deaths of five militants and several arrests. While state officials characterized the gunmen as terrorists backed by foreign powers, including the United States and Israel, the Baloch rights group Haalvsh identified the People's Fighters Front as the opposing force and reported additional Iranian casualties, including intelligence officer Ahmad Herati Zeraati.

Following the skirmish, security forces surrounded Razi Hospital and disrupted internet access in the area. This incident follows a pattern of instability in the Sunni-majority province, occurring less than two weeks after a September 12 operation in Saravan that left four militants and three security personnel dead. Zarifi's funeral is scheduled for Friday in Saravan.