Intelligence forces dismantle four terrorist cells in southeast Iran

Iran’s Intelligence Ministry says its forces have managed to dismantle four terrorist cells in the southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan near the border with Pakistan and arrested more than a dozen militants before they could carry out any act of terror.

In a statement released on Monday, the ministry said its forces identified and captured 19 terrorists belonging to Takfiri militant outfits that were operating under the aegis of the United States and Israeli regime. Another five terrorists were also eliminated, whilst a serviceman with the law enforcement forces was martyred.

According to the statement, intelligence forces discovered caches of weapons as well as explosive devices at the militants' hideouts.

The ministry noted that a three-strong Takfiri terrorist cell, which was active in the southeastern regions of Iran, and had planned to carry out a terrorist attack deep inside the country, was smashed during a surprise operation in Damghan County of the northeastern province of Semnan.

Separately, more than twenty explosive devices, which were meant for a series of terror attacks in different parts of the country, were discovered and seized from a terrorist hideout in the Sistan and Baluchestan provincial capital city of Zahedan.

Two terrorists, who had undergone training in a neighboring country on how to make bombs and had sneaked across the border to conduct a series of terrorist acts, were also nabbed.

Furthermore, a high-profile militant, identified as Iraj Bameri, was eliminated and three others were arrested during another counterterrorism operation in southeastern Iran. A considerable amount of weapons and ammunition was confiscated as a result.

Three Takfiri militant cells affiliated with the American-Zionist enemy were also busted by intelligence forces, before conducting any hostile action. Eleven terrorists were arrested during the operation.

The Iranian Intelligence Ministry's statement noted that the captured terrorists were tasked with carrying out bomb attacks, assassinations, and destabilizing the southern districts Sistan and Baluchestan province. They also sought to collect information on the critical infrastructure and economic facilities at Chabahar Port.

The statement noted that a number of the arrested militants are foreign nationals, who had been recruited by Takfiri militant groups, underwent training in neighboring countries on how to conduct acts of sabotage, and entered Iran to carry out terrorist attacks during the latest US-Israeli war of aggression.

Additionally, four Takfiri militants were eliminated in the border city of ​​Saravan as they were attempting to sneak across the frontier.

During the counterterrorism operation, a terrorist attempted to detonate his explosive-laden vest, which resulted in the martyrdom of a law enforcement officer and the injury of another.

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