Iranian General and Pilot Killed in Helicopter Crash

Two members of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), General Hamid Mazandarani and pilot Hamed Jandaghi, were killed in a gyroplane crash during an anti-terror operation in Sistan-Baluchistan province. The crash occurred while the IRGC was conducting combat operations in response to a recent attack by Sunni militants that resulted in the deaths of 10 police officers. Sistan-Baluchistan, a border region with Pakistan and Afghanistan, is known for its poverty and ethnic tensions involving the Baluch minority, who predominantly practice Sunni Islam. Helicopter accidents are infrequent in Iran, but notable incidents, including the crash that killed former President Ebrahim Raisi earlier this year, have raised concerns about operational safety. Iranian media report that the ongoing military operations have led to the killing and arrest of several militants since they began. The region has a history of violence involving rebels, drug traffickers, and clashes with security forces.