Iran-Based Jihadi Group Jaysh Al-'Adl Claims Killing, Wounding Over 200 Iranian Security Forces In Series Of Attacks In Southern Baluchestan

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On April 3-4, 2024, the Al-'Adl Media, the official media outlet of the Iran-based salafi-jihadi group Jaysh Al-'Adl, published several posts concerning a series of attacks claimed by the group against Iranian security forces in the south of Iran's Baluchestan region. This report reviews the posts.

Operatives Destroy Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Weapons Depots; Target Iranian Security Sites

On April 3, the group published[1] a statement in Persian asserting that the group had started a series of "simultaneous" operations in southern Baluchestan. The statement requests that residents of the cities of Chabahar, Rask, and Sarbaz stay in their homes and pray for mujahideen's "victory."

On April 4, the group published[2] a post claiming that its operatives had taken control of a weapons depot belonging to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Rask, and destroyed several other IRGC weapons depots. A 26-second video was attached[3], documenting the interior of a weapons depot. An additional 26-second video from the same day shows operatives arming themselves at a weapons depot.[4]

Later that day, the group published[5] a post detailing the targets attacked. In Chabahar, the group targeted a "naval headquarters" belonging to Iran's Law Enforcement Command (Faraja); a police station; a Faraja "awareness center"; and a headquarters of the Chabahar Army Corps. In addition, the group targeted a base of the Rask District Corps in Rask, and a local IRGC base on the road connecting Rask and Sarbaz.

Iranian Plan To Settle Millions Of Shi'ites in Baluchestan's Coastal Cities To Pressure World To Accept "Nuclear Iran"

On April 4, the group published[6] a statement summarizing details of the attacks. According to the statement, the operation was carried out by several battalions of the group, in cooperation with the group's intelligence and security unit, totaling 168 operatives. Over 200 Iranian forces were killed and wounded in the operation, including forces of the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence and the IRGC intelligence. The statement adds that 18 of the group's operatives were "martyred."

The statement asserts that the operation was carried out in opposition to the "Makran Beach Development" plan, which "targets the interests of Baloch Muslim people." The plan involves settling millions of non-Baloch Shi'ite residents and militias in Baluchestan's coastal cities, potentially leading to sectarian tensions and a "dark future" for the region.

According to the statement, the plan is intended to expand the Iranian regime's influence and pressure the world into accepting a "nuclear Iran" by means of threating maritime trade and disrupting the world's energy distribution path. The statement further accuses the Iranian regime of using the "coasts of Baluchestan" to promote the interests of neighboring countries, including India, Russia, and China, and advises its security forces to resign before suffering "physical and psychological damage."

In June 2023, Jaysh Al-'Adl called on Baloch youth to join the group, with the goal of toppling Iran’s "Shi’ite regime."[7] In January 2024, Jaysh Al-'Adl denied claims that it was operating inside Pakistan, following Iranian airstrikes targeting the group along the Pakistani border.[8]