19 Killed as Iran Separatists Attack Zahedan

Revolutionary Guard commander killed in clashes

A major terrorist attack took place in Iran’s Zahedan Friday, killing 19 people, mostly police, and a Revolutionary Guard commander.

Details are still emerging, but attackers were linked to a Baluchistan separatist group called Jaish al-Zulm which made a run at a mosque and police station. They also set a fire engine afire, and burned a bank.

Protests were held at the mosque earlier in the day, and it seems likely that the attack was somewhat related to that.

Baluchi separatists are active in Iran and Pakistan, and envision a Sunni Islamist state. Iran has long accused Israel of backing these groups.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.