TEHRAN – An Iranian border guard has been killed in clashes with armed bandits in the northwestern province of Kurdistan near the border with Iraq.

The clash took place as the border guards prevented the armed group from entering the country. The bandits were venturing into the Iranian territory with the intention of conducting acts of sabotage, the province’s border police chief announced.

The clash took place near the border village of Sardab on Sunday night, according to Brigadier General Kiumars Sheikhi.

The commander did not give any further details or say whether they were connected to militant groups but said police had obtained new clues about them and launched a hunt.

Over the past years, Iranian security forces and border guards have engaged in several clashes with terror groups, many of whom tried to enter the country from Pakistan and Iraq to carry out attacks.

In February, a suicide bomber targeted a bus carrying border guards near the border with Pakistan, killing 27 IRGC servicemen injuring 13 others. The Jaish ul-Adl terrorist group took responsibility for the attack. 

SP/PA