Jihadists Kill Policeman, Three Assailants in Southeast Iran

In Iran's southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchistan, a policeman from Saravan was killed during an attack by members of the Sunni jihadist group Jaish al-Adl, which is based in Pakistan and active in the region. The assailants attempted to storm a local police station, resulting in the deaths of three terrorists and the arrest of two others. Sistan-Baluchistan, bordering Pakistan and Afghanistan, is frequently the site of violent clashes between Iranian security forces and insurgents, as well as smuggling activities. The province has a large Baloch ethnic minority that practices Sunni Islam in predominantly Shiite Iran. Recent attacks by Jaish al-Adl include a July 26 assault on a courthouse in Zahedan, killing at least six people, and a deadly attack in October where ten police officers were killed. These incidents underscore ongoing instability and militant activity in the region.