Attack by gunmen kills 3 members of Revolutionary Guard in southeast Iran

Three Revolutionary Guard Members Killed in Ambush Near Pakistan Border

Gunmen ambushed and killed three members of Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guard in a remote mountainous area of Iran’s southeastern Sistan and Baluchistan province, state media reported Wednesday.

The attack occurred during a routine patrol near the city of Lar, approximately 1,125 kilometers (700 miles) southeast of Tehran, according to Iran’s official IRNA news agency. The area sits close to Iran’s borders with both Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Revolutionary Guard forces have launched a pursuit operation to capture those responsible, whom they’ve labeled “terrorists,” but no arrests have been reported. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, IRNA stated.

The state news agency did not specify whether any other Guard members suffered injuries in the ambush.

Sistan and Baluchistan province has long been a flashpoint for violence in the Islamic Republic. The region ranks among Iran’s least developed provinces and has witnessed periodic deadly confrontations involving militant groups, armed drug traffickers, and Iranian security forces.

The province’s strategic location makes it a key corridor for narcotics smuggling from Afghanistan, the world’s largest opium producer, to markets in Europe and beyond. This lucrative trade has fueled the proliferation of heavily armed smuggling networks operating in the region.

Security challenges in the area are further complicated by the presence of Sunni militant groups who have historically opposed Iran’s Shiite leadership. Some of these groups have conducted periodic attacks against Iranian security forces.

This latest incident comes amid heightened tensions in the region. Just last month, Iranian security forces killed 13 militants in three separate operations within the province, according to state media. Those operations followed a deadly attack a week earlier in which five Iranian police officers on patrol were killed.

The Revolutionary Guard, formally known as the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), serves as an elite branch of Iran’s armed forces, operating separately from the regular military. Established following the 1979 Islamic Revolution, the IRGC has evolved into a powerful force within Iran with extensive political and economic influence.

Border security has become an increasing priority for Iranian authorities, particularly along its eastern frontiers. The fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban in 2021 and ongoing instability in Pakistan’s Balochistan province have raised concerns in Tehran about spillover effects, including increased drug trafficking and militant activities.

Iranian authorities have responded by reinforcing border positions and conducting regular patrols in vulnerable areas, though the rugged terrain makes comprehensive security coverage challenging.

The Iranian government has also pursued diplomatic channels with both Pakistan and Afghanistan to address cross-border security concerns, though with limited success given the complex regional dynamics.

Wednesday’s attack represents the latest in a series of security incidents that have plagued Iran’s southeastern regions, highlighting the ongoing challenges the Islamic Republic faces in maintaining control over its more remote territories.

As Revolutionary Guard forces continue their search for the perpetrators, security measures in the region are likely to be intensified, potentially disrupting daily life for local communities already struggling with economic hardship and limited development.