Attack Claims Lives of 11 Iranian Police Officers in Sistan and Baluchistan

Tragically, an attack unfolded overnight in the turbulent southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchistan, claiming the lives of at least 11 Iranian police officers, according to an official report broadcasted on state television. Alireza Marhamati, the deputy provincial governor, confirmed the grim details on December 15, stating, “In the terrorist attack on the police headquarters in the town of Rask, 11 policemen were killed, and others were wounded.”

The incident involved clashes with a group of assailants, resulting in casualties on both sides. The attack has been attributed to the Sunni militant group Jaish al-Adl, as claimed in the report.

Sistan and Baluchistan, a province marked by economic challenges, shares borders with Afghanistan and Pakistan. It is home to a significant Sunni Baluch minority, numbering up to 2 million people, within a predominantly Shia country.

Human rights organizations have long raised concerns about discrimination faced by the Baluch population and other minorities in Iran. Allegations include systemic biases in the judicial system and restrictions in their daily lives, such as limited access to education, employment, housing, and political participation.

The province has experienced various forms of unrest involving drug-smuggling gangs, Baluch rebels, and Sunni extremists. The provincial capital, Zahedan, witnessed prolonged and deadly protests that erupted in September of the previous year.

Sistan and Baluchistan has unfortunately been a recurring target for such attacks. In July of the same year, four police officers lost their lives during patrol duty. Two weeks earlier, a shootout claimed the lives of two policemen and four assailants, an incident also attributed to the Jaish al-Adl group. In May, state media reported the death of five Iranian border guards in clashes with a “terrorist group seeking to infiltrate the country.”