Iran: At least 5 security forces killed in latest Jaish al-Adl attack in Baluchistan

At least five police officers were killed in an ambush on Tuesday in Iran’s Sistan and Baluchistan province, following deadly clashes just days ago.

The official Islamic Republic News Agency reported that militants attacked a police patrol in the Sib and Suran area of the province, located south of the provincial capital, Zahedan. At least five police were killed and another person was injured.

Iranian officials blamed the attack on Jaish al-Zulm. The name of the group translates to “army of injustice” and is used by Iranian officials to refer to the Sunni Islamist group Jaish al-Adl, whose name translates to “army of justice.”

Videos purportedly showing the attack spread on Iranian social media.

The attack occurred at the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

Why it matters: The incident follows Jaish al-Adl's attack on police headquarters and an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps base in the province last week, killing 11 members of Iran’s security forces.

Jaish al-Adl is fighting for the independence of the Sunni-majority Sistan and Baluchistan province and has carried out numerous attacks on Iranian security forces in recent years.

Sistan and Baluchistan is home to Iran’s Baluchi minority and has suffered from decades of marginalization and repression.

The wider region of Baluchistan extends into Pakistan and Afghanistan as well.

Know more: Tensions in the area created a diplomatic crisis between Iran and Pakistan in January. Iran struck alleged militant targets inside Pakistani territory that month, prompting retaliatory strikes from Pakistan. The two reconciled later the same month when Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian visited Islamabad.

Last month, Pakistan said militants attacked the Turbat naval base in its Balochistan province. The Balochistan Liberation Army, another separatist group, claimed credit for the attack.