Gunmen kill bodyguard of Iran Guards general: state media

In an attack on a checkpoint in Iran’s restive southeast on Saturday, gunmen killed the bodyguard of a Revolutionary Guards commander, according to official television.

The incident took place in Sistan-Baluchistan, a province bordering Pakistan and Afghanistan that is frequently the site of attacks or conflicts between security personnel and armed groups, according to the IRNA news agency.

The slain bodyguard was identified as Mahmoud Absalan, the son of General Parviz Absalan, a commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in the region.

State television said “criminals” had opened fire at the checkpoint, located at the entrance to the provincial capital of Zahedan.

IRNA said the security forces arrested those behind the attack.

Poverty-stricken Sistan-Baluchistan is a flashpoint for clashes with smuggling gangs, as well as separatists from the Baluchi minority and extremist militant groups.

In January, state media said three Guard members were among nine people killed in a clash with “armed criminals” in the same region.

And in November, IRNA said three members of the security forces were killed in similar circumstances also in Sistan-Baluchistan.

Iran reported the arrest of three suspects related to Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency in Sistan-Baluchistan two days prior to Saturday’s horrific incident.