A senior Iranian military leader and his pilot died when their light gyroplane crashed Monday during what officials said was a counterterrorism operation in the country’s Sistan and Baluchestan province.
Iran’s official Fars News Agency identified the two victims of the crash as Brig. Gen. Hamid Mazandarani and Hamed Jandaqi, the pilot. The general commanded the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Neynava Brigade, while the pilot was assigned to the IRGC’s Ground Forces.
The crash happened during an anti-terrorism exercise, codenamed Martyrs of Security, that began Friday, according to FARS. The IRGC has been conducting operations in the region since Oct. 26 when 10 police officers were killed in an attack reportedly carried out by Sunni Muslim militants.
Sistan and Baluchestan is Iran’s second-largest province and borders Afghanistan and Pakistan. One of the most impoverished regions of the country, it’s home to many of the Baluchis who practice Sunni Islam, in contrast to Iran’s predominantly Shiite population.
• Mike Glenn can be reached at mglenn@washingtontimes.com.
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