Iranian state media reported today, Thursday, that armed militants killed at least 5 Iranian security personnel and wounded 10 others in two separate attacks targeting security facilities in southeastern Iran. The reports indicated that both attacks carried out by militants from the "Jaish al-Adl" group targeted Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) bases in Rask and Chabahar in the Sistan and Baluchestan province. The reports also mentioned the death of at least 8 militants during exchanges of gunfire with security forces.
"Jaish al-Adl" is an armed group active in southeastern Iran and in the Baluchistan region of western Pakistan. Iran has previously targeted the group's bases in Pakistan with missiles, which prompted a swift military response from Islamabad, targeting what it described as separatist militants in Iran.
**What is "Jaish al-Adl"?**
"Jaish al-Adl" is a Baloch militant organization opposing the Iranian government, claiming it fights for the national and sectarian rights of the Baloch in Iran, while the Iranian government and some Western governments, including the United States, list it as a terrorist organization. The group emerged in 2012, primarily composed of members of the armed group "Jundallah," which was weakened after Tehran detained most of its members. The anti-Iran group seeks independence for Sistan in eastern Iran and the Baluchistan region in southwestern Pakistan. These goals make it a common target for both governments.
The group identifies itself as a "defender of Sunni rights in Iran," especially in the Sistan and Baluchestan province. It is noted that the Baloch population in Iran ranges from about 4 to 5 million in eastern and southeastern provinces, forming the majority in Sistan and Baluchestan province, which borders Pakistan's Baluchistan. This province has witnessed recurring bloody clashes between Baloch organizations and Iranian military forces for over two decades.
**Reasons for "Jaish al-Adl's" Presence in Baluchistan:**
Members of this group belong to the Baloch ethnic community and live on both sides of the border. Pakistan insists that the group does not have an organized presence in the region or elsewhere, but it acknowledges that some militants may be hiding in remote areas of Baluchistan, the country's largest province and most sensitive due to longstanding insurgency. Separatists and nationalists complain about discrimination and seek a fairer share of resources and wealth from their province.
**Why Does "Jaish al-Adl" Cause Tension Between Iran and Pakistan?**
Iran and Pakistan have long exchanged nuclear-armed suspicions regarding armed attacks. Attacks on Iranian and Pakistani security forces have increased in recent years, with each side blaming the other for neglecting extremists. Pakistan claims it has shared evidence with Iran regarding the presence of Baloch separatists in Iran, who carry out cross-border attacks on Pakistani forces. Pakistan stated that it has arrested some members of Jaish al-Adl for their involvement in multiple attacks in Iran. The group often targets Iranian security forces near the Pakistani border, with militants entering Pakistan, where authorities are trying to secure the border and establish more checkpoints.
