A commando of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Ground Force has succumbed to wounds he sustained during a counter-terrorism military exercise in the southeastern Sistan and Baluchestan province more than a month ago.
The public relations department of the IRGC Ground Force announced in a statement that Ali Ahmadi, a member of the elite Saberin Brigade, passed away on Saturday after being wounded in the course of the “Martyrs of Security” drills on November 10.
The statement added that Ahmadi suffered a severe head injury during the drills, and subsequently fell into a coma.
He was in critical condition at the intensive care unit (ICU) of a hospital in the southeastern city of Kerman, before he breathed his last.
According to General Ahmad Shafaei, spokesman for the “Martyrs of Security” drill, the anti-terror exercise was initially staged in the provincial capital Zahedan, Taftan County and a section of Khash city; but later expanded to cover the cities of Nikshahr and Qasreqand, Rask County, and part of Mehrestan County.
Shafaei stated that the main objective of the drill was to enhance the preparedness of participating units within a short period of time, ranging from seven to ten days.
“We could purge the region [of terrorists] in parallel with obtaining the main goal of the Martyrs of Security drill, which is to elevate the combat readiness” of IRGC units,” he pointed out.
Sistan and Baluchestan province, which borders Pakistan, has witnessed several terror attacks targeting both civilians and security forces over the past years.
Terrorist groups carrying out attacks against Iranian interests in the southeastern and southwestern parts of the country are believed to be linked to foreign intelligence services.
On October 26, ten members of Iran's law enforcement forces were killed in a terrorist attack in the Gohar Kuh district of Taftan County in the province.
The so-called Jaish al-Adl terrorist group claimed responsibility for the assault, which was one of the deadliest in the province in recent months.
The group has carried out numerous terrorist attacks in Iran, primarily in Sistan and Baluchestan. Its tactics include the abduction of border guards as well as targeting civilians and police stations within the province to incite chaos and disorder.