At least six civilians, including a mother and child, were killed and 22 others wounded in an attack on a courthouse in south-east Iran, Iranian media reported on Saturday. The assault was carried out by the jihadist separatist group Jaish al-Adl in the city of Zahedan, in Sistan-Baluchestan province.
According to the Baluch human rights group Haalvsh, attackers stormed the courthouse, opened fire on those inside, and then launched a second attack with mortars and grenade launchers. A three-hour clash with security forces ensued. Three gunmen were killed in the exchange, Iran's state news agency reported.
Several injured individuals are in critical condition and have been transferred to local hospitals. Jaish al-Adl claimed responsibility in a Telegram statement, telling civilians to evacuate the area for their safety. Residents reported hearing explosions and gunfire, and some roads leading to the courthouse were closed.
Sistan-Baluchestan province, which borders Pakistan and Afghanistan, has experienced an ongoing insurgency for two decades. The region is home to Iran's Sunni Baluch minority, who have long complained of marginalisation and exclusion. Jaish al-Adl, designated a terrorist group by Iran, has been active since 2014 and has carried out previous attacks, including a December 2023 police station assault that killed 11 people.
