Iran Revolutionary Guard intel officer among 19 killed in gunbattle near Afghan-Pakistan border
There has been widespread agitation across Iran over Islamic dress code
Heavy gun battles in the southeastern Iranian province of Sistan-Baluchestan have claimed 19 lives, including of a Revolutionary Guards colonel, the state media reported.
"Nineteen people were killed and 20 wounded in the incident," regional governor Hossein Khiabani told the state broadcaster late on Friday.
"Provincial intelligence officer of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Colonel Ali Mousavi was also killed," state television added.
Sistan-Baluchistan, which borders Afghanistan and Pakistan and is one of the poverty-ridden regions, is a battleground for clashes with drug smuggling gangs, as well as rebels from the Baluchi minority and Sunni Muslim extremist groups.
On Friday, local media reported that security forces had returned fire when a police station in the provincial capital Zahedan came under attack by gunmen, reports AFP news agency.
"A number of police members as well as passers-by have been injured in the exchange of fire," the state broadcaster said.
)
'Not sure': Trump pours cold water on Ukraine's Patriot missile dream after Zelensky's claim
)
Brewery offering 'free beer' the day Trump dies has license revoked - 'Will have to pry me out of my taprooms'
)
'We have special forces': Netanyahu warns against any ICC arrest attempt abroad
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
New Friday OTT releases (July 31, 2026): The Vacation Principle, Rao Bahadur, Chum- Watch 6 new movies and TV shows on Netflix, Prime Video and more
)
Lift accident? Maintenance, builders & makers are ALL liable now, rules Supreme Court: 3 major regulations | WION Decodes
)
Kiara Advani reveals why she chose Toxic, says character offered her 'all the meat an actor longs for'
)
British Airways flight comes close to 'nosediving' over London
)
Indian forces used pellet guns on Jul 20? SC hearing, police diary entry, MLC report and injured protesters' claims
)
3.6mn people track 24hr Qantas flight from Melbourne to Toulouse: Pilot shifts, fuel tank and other details
)
WATCH: 'Absolute chaos' at Spain-Morocco border; thousands breach Ceuta, at least 9 killed
)
India avoids higher US tariff, secures lower 10% rate. Here's how
)
'Living Nostradamus' warns of a new war, claims two of his 2026 predictions have come true
)
'There needs to be a declaration of war': Trump wins Senate vote, but Cassidy draws red line on Iran
)
Anthropic reveals India is Claude AI's No. 2 market. But what are Indians actually using the AI for? | WION Decodes
)
'Hamas will disarm': Trump unveils 'historic' 20-point plan to end Gaza war. What's inside it?
)
Karan Johar's The Traitors season 2 contestants: Rhea Chakraborty, Mallika Sherawat and Munawar Faruqui in the first batch
)
Bizarre new material discovered in Hiroshima nuclear bombing debris | Gravitas
)
This Ramayana actor took ZERO fee from Rs 4000 crore film. Guess who?
)
Commonwealth Games 2026 Day 9: India's full schedule, medal events and match timings
)
Russia-Ukraine war: Putin mobilises more troops for Ukraine's war decisive invasion
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
‘Italy will not...’: Meloni threatens Spain’s Schengen access after thousands enter Ceuta from Morocco
)
NEET Protests riddled with misinformation? Delhi Police blocks 480 Pakistan-based handles spreading 'fake news' since Operation Sindoor
)
ED raids uncover ₹600 crore assets in Jharkhand illegal coal mining crackdown
)
Trump to charge foreign students $100,000 for a shot at a US job? Here's why Indian students should be worried
)
Meta India head booked as cyber police crack down on 'obscene' morphed PM Modi videos
)
The Royals enter the Doctor Who universe: King Charles and Queen Camilla beam into Commonwealth Games in TARDIS
)
Trump says Iranian school bombing photos could be AI-generated - 'I don’t think...'
)
23ft python swallows man returning from party in Indonesia; family find body whole inside reptile
)
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke returns to Maharashtra, receives grand welcome in hometown
)
Hosts India sweep Malaysia for double gold in men’s and women’s Commonwealth Table Tennis finals
)
Spider-Man Brand New Day BO day 1: Tom Holland starrer surpasses No Way Home's India opening
)
Russia-Ukraine War: Zelensky fears 500,000 new Russian troops
)
Delhi Consumer Court fines Indian Railways Rs 25,000 for making RAC passengers share one blanket
)
ICC announces 12 host venues for 2027 ODI World Cup
)
Nearly Rs 29 crore cash, 15 kg gold found at ex-bus driver's house in West Bengal
)
Student denied admission to IIT Kanpur's cybersecurity program hacks websites to prove a point
It is unknown whether these recent casualties are linked to the widespread agitation taking place across the state over the Islamic dress code.
The Iranian regime has been blaming "foreign enemies" for the women-led protests that had seen several casualties across the nation.
Earlier, it had detained citizens of Germany, Poland, Italy, France, the Netherlands, Sweden who were claimed to be “plotting” the protests against the government.
As the West mounts tensions, Tehran has responded by lashing out at its critics, accusing the United States of exploiting the unrest to try to destabilise Iran.
The agitation began after the death of 22-year-old Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini, who was arrested by Iran's morality police for allegedly violating the mandatory dress code.
It is being claimed that the woman wore the mandatory hijab (an Islamic headscarf) too loosely.
(With inputs from agencies)
WATCH WION LIVE HERE: