Iranian missiles and drones hit targets in Pakistan’s Balochistan on January 16, demolishing what semi-official media described as two key strongholds of the Jaysh al-Dhulm (Jaish al-Adl) terrorist group.
Key points
- The attacks took place in the town of Panjgur close to the border with Iran.
- According to the Iranian media, focal point of this operation was the region known as Kouh-Sabz (green mountain) in Balochistan, recognised as one of the largest hubs for the Jeysh al-Dhulm militant.
- The literal meaning of Jaish al-Adl is the “Army of Justice”.
- They are a Sunni Salafist militant group with bases in Pakistan’s Balochistan province, who are active in the mountainous border regions of Pakistan and Iran.
- They are one of several Sunni militant separatist groups who claim to be fighting for the independence of the Sistan and Baluchestan (known as Asli Balouchestan) province in the southeastern corner of Iran, bordering Pakistan’s Balochistan province and the Indian Ocean.
- The Jaish al-Adl was founded by the former Jundallah leader Abdolmalek Rigi in 2002 or 2003.
- The Sunni militant group, which also calls itself “People’s Resistance of Iran”, is based in Iran’s Sistan-Baluchestan province, and operates in the adjoining Baloch-majority areas spread over Iran, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.
