An attack on an Iranian police convoy in the southern province of Sistan and Baluchestan resulted in the tragic deaths of 10 officers. The incident took place in Gohar Kuh, located around 1,200 kilometers southeast of Tehran. Initially, reports referred to the attackers as “miscreants,” but Iranian state media later confirmed that 10 officers had lost their lives.
HalVash, an advocacy group for the Baluch people, shared images and videos showing a police truck with a green stripe, a common feature on Iranian police vehicles, that had been disabled. One particularly distressing photo depicted two police officers slumped in the front seat of the truck. The attack seemed to target two security vehicles, resulting in the death of everyone on board. Evidence indicated that bullets, rather than explosives, were used in the assault.
The Iranian interior minister, Eskandar Momeni, has ordered an investigation into the incident. So far, no suspects have been identified, and no group has claimed responsibility for the attack. This assault occurred shortly after a significant Israeli attack on Iran earlier that same morning.
The region of Sistan and Baluchestan has been plagued by violence for years, with Baluch nationalists engaging in a low-level insurgency across Afghanistan, Iran, and Pakistan. The area has also been a hotspot for heroin trafficking, making it difficult to verify information. The province is known for its underdevelopment, and tensions between the Sunni Muslim residents and Iran’s Shia government have been ongoing.
While typical attacks involve small-scale assaults by militant groups like Jaish al-Adl, which target security officials, there have been instances of larger attacks resulting in multiple casualties. In the past, gunmen wearing explosive vests carried out coordinated attacks, and security forces had to respond by neutralizing the threat. Additionally, there were reports of Iranian security forces allegedly killing Afghan migrants in the region, further straining relations between the two countries.
The recent attack on the Iranian police convoy raises questions about the effectiveness of security measures in the region and the ongoing conflict between various groups. The lack of immediate suspects and the absence of a claim of responsibility add to the mystery surrounding this tragic event. As the investigation unfolds, authorities will be under pressure to ensure justice for the fallen officers and prevent future attacks in this volatile region.
