Iran general killed in clashes with rebels: report Fri Sep 19, 8:02 AM ET

Iran general killed in clashes with rebels: report - Fri Sep 19, 8:02 AM ET
Four members of the Iranian security forces, including a general, have been killed in clashes with rebels in the southeast, the semi-official Fars news agency said on Friday quoting a police official. "During clashes with armed rebels on Thursday night, Brigadier General Mohammad Sar-Golzaie was killed" in Sistan-Baluchestan province, a local police commander, Salah Asgari, said. He said the general was killed during mopping up operations in the Nosratabad area northwest of the provincial capital Zahedan. He said three other soldiers had been killed in fighting in recent days without specifying where. "Several rebels were also killed," he added. Sistan-Baluchestan has seen a spate of attacks by Sunni Muslim militant group Jundullah (Soldiers of God) in recent years. The province is home to a large ethnic Baluch community, who, unlike most Iranians, are Sunnis. The province also borders Afghanistan and Pakistan and is a major drug trafficking route.