Iranian Forces Dismantle Terrorist Cell in Sistan and Baluchestan

Iranian intelligence forces have dismantled a terrorist cell in the southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan, near the border with Pakistan.

In a major counterterrorism operation, six members of the group were killed and two others captured alive, according to a statement released Saturday by the provincial General Directorate of Intelligence, The Caspian Post reports, citing Iranian media.

The statement added that the armed terrorists, who had sneaked into the country via the eastern border over the past few days, were captured after being identified by the security forces. They were arrested before they could take any action to conduct their mission.

The main operational team comprised seven non-Iranian militants armed with various weapons, including laser-guided RPG-7 launchers, US-made M4 and M16 assault rifles, hand grenades, grenade launchers, explosive vests, handheld radios, and a large cache of RPG anti-personnel rounds. Several vehicles and motorcycles were also seized.

During a heavy and hours-long firefight, six terrorists were killed while two others were captured alive.

Two Iranian intelligence officers and a policeman sustained injuries in the process as well.

The General Directorate of Intelligence in Sistan and Baluchestan province noted that the terror team was plotting to target a “critical facility” in eastern Iran.

Training methods, including exercises on mock-up models of the site, reportedly resembled previous replicas attributed to the operational playbook of the Israeli spy agency Mossad.