Two members of the Iran Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, IRGC, died in a gyroplane crash near the Pakistan border this past Monday, Nov 4. Per various news agencies and state TV, the incident occurred near Iran’s southeastern province, Sistan-Baluchistan, Sirkan city.
The incident saw Brigadier General Hamid Mazandarani and his pilot Hamed Jandaqi die during the crash. News agency Fars quoted IRGC Ground Force as the source that the duo were in the area for a military operation.
Duo belonged to the IRGC Ground Force, which has conducted an anti-terrorism exercise named ‘Martyrs of Security’ in the province since November, reported Fars.
The ultra-light place that resembles a helicopter in rotor design but is smaller with capacity for two, crashed during a counterterrorism maneuver.
This incident occurred days after 10 Iranian law enforcement personnel were killed in an attack by ‘miscreants’ in the Gohar Kuh area of the province shortly after Israeli strikes targeting key military installations.
Sistan and Baluchistan are home to a significant population of the Baluch ethnicity, divided between Iran and Pakistan. The Baluchs come from a Sunni origin of Islam, whereas Iran originally comes from Shia Islam. Conflicts between Iranian security forces and militants from the Baluch community flare up regularly in the province.
