(KUNA) -- Iranian troops in the southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchestan have killed and captured elements of the anti-regime "Soldiers of Allah" group, troops commander Mohammad Ghafari said on Thursday.
He told the Iranian TV that his troops had Thursday morning carried out an operation in the border province of Sistan-Baluchestan where they killed and captured 18 members of the group that was planning to launch terrorist attack in the province. The group planned to implement terrorist and sabotage attacks over the coming few days aiming to provoke sectarian prejudices among the sputhern parts in the province.
In addition, the commander said, huge amounts of weapons, explosives and communication apparatuses were found during the operation in addition to documents revealing that they were planning to carry out terrorist acts on Iranian soil.
Iran's border regions with Afghanistan and Pakistan are a major smuggling route for drugs and other contraband. Sistan-Baluchestan province is reported to be a volatile border province, where clashes between security forces and drug smugglers and also with anti-regime groups are frequent. |