Eight Iranian border guards have been killed in a clash with Sunni rebels who had infiltrated from neighbouring Pakistan, Iran's official IRNA news agency reported on Tuesday.
"Armed terrorists entered Iran from Pakistan and clashed with border guards, killing eight soldiers before fleeing back to Pakistan," Ali Asghar Mirshekari, deputy governor of Sistan-Baluchistan province, told the news agency.
The southeastern province has a large Sunni community and has seen repeated attacks by militants on the security forces of mainly Shiite Iran.
But the clash in the Negur district was the deadliest since October 2013 when 14 border guards were killed in an attack claimed by Sunni militant group Jaish-ul Adl (Army of Justice).
The same group captured five Iranian troops in February last year. Four of them were released last April. The fifth is still missing presumed dead.
GMT 13:53 2017 Saturday ,23 September
Iran successfully tested new ballistic missileGMT 14:22 2017 Tuesday ,18 July
Iran parliament passes motion to fight U.S. "adventurism"GMT 04:16 2017 Sunday ,23 April
US says Iran complies with nuke deal but orders review on lifting sanctionsGMT 03:23 2017 Sunday ,23 April
Heavy security in Tehran as campaigning starts for Iran's May presidential voteGMT 02:17 2017 Saturday ,22 April
Khamenei criticises economic policies in New Year speechGMT 02:17 2017 Friday ,21 April
Iran complies with nuke deal but orders reviewGMT 03:30 2017 Tuesday ,18 April
Russia can use military bases 'on case by case basis', says IranGMT 01:28 2017 Sunday ,16 April
Wave of arrests targets social media activists and journalists in IranMaintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2023 ©
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2023 ©