An armed attack struck the main courthouse in the city of Zahedan, located in Iran’s southeastern Sistan and Baluchistan Province, on Saturday morning, leaving at least five people martyred and 13 others wounded, according to preliminary reports by Iranian state media (IRIB) and local sources.

The attack reportedly began with direct fire aimed at the courthouse building, followed by indiscriminate shooting targeting civilians. Emergency medical teams swiftly arrived at the scene, evacuating the wounded and transferring them to nearby hospitals for urgent treatment. The identities of the injured have not yet been released, and medical officials have warned that the death toll could rise due to the severity of some injuries.

Security forces responded immediately, cordoning off the area and evacuating all staff and visitors from the courthouse. A heavy police and military presence was deployed throughout the area to ensure security and prevent further attacks.

Iranian sources confirmed that three of the attackers were killed during the exchange of gunfire with security forces. The terrorist group Jaish al-Adl, a U.S.-designated terrorist organization with a history of deadly assaults in the region, has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Sistan and Baluchistan, which borders both Pakistan and Afghanistan, has long been a target of militant groups attempting to destabilize the region through cross-border terrorism and violent insurgency.

The Iranian government has yet to issue an official statement on the incident, but security operations are reportedly ongoing to identify and apprehend any remaining accomplices linked to the attack.

More updates are expected as the situation develops. (ILKHA)