76 terrorists killed, captured amid anti-terror drills in southeast Iran, says IRGC general

Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Ground Force has killed or captured 76 terrorists in the course of the ongoing counter-terrorism military exercise in the southeastern Sistan and Baluchestan province.

General Ahmad Shafaei, spokesman for the “Martyrs of Security” drill, stated on Saturday that a total of 26 terrorists have been killed and 50 others arrested in various clean-up operations ever since the extensive drill got underway on November 1.

A dozen terrorists also surrendered themselves to authorities during the period, he added.

“The main objective of the drill is to enhance the preparedness of participating units within a short period of time, ranging from seven to ten days. We could purge the region [of terrorists] in parallel with obtaining the main goal of the Martyrs of Security drill, which is to elevate the combat readiness” of IRGC units, Shafaei stated.

He pointed to the martyrdom of 10 members of Iran’s law enforcement forces in a terrorist attack in the Gohar Kuh district of Taftan County on October 26, after which commander of the IRGC Ground Force Brigadier General Mohammad Pakpour took the decision for the launch of the large-scale drill.

Three more terrorists killed, 6 captured in anti-terror drills in SE Iran

Iran’s IRGC Ground Force has eliminated three more terrorists and captured another six during the ongoing major counter-terrorism exercise.

Shafaei stated that the anti-terror drill was initially staged in the provincial capital Zahedan, Taftan County and a section of Khash city; but later expanded to cover the cities of Nikshahr and Qasreqand, Rask County, and part of Mehrestan County.

Sistan and Baluchestan province, which borders Pakistan, has witnessed several terror attacks targeting both civilians and security forces over the past years.

Terrorist groups carrying out attacks against Iranian interests in the southeastern and southwestern parts of the country are believed to be linked to foreign intelligence services.

The so-called Jaish al-Adl terrorist group has claimed responsibility for the assault on Iranian security forces on October 26, which was one of the deadliest in the province in recent months.

The group has carried out numerous terrorist attacks in Iran, primarily in Sistan and Baluchestan. Its tactics include the abduction of border guards as well as targeting civilians and police stations within the province to incite chaos and disorder.

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