Islamic State Ahvaz attack 'mastermind' killed in Iraq’s Diyala, Iran’s Guards says

One of the alleged masterminds of the Islamic State-claimed attack in the south of Iran’s Ahvaz last month was killed, along with “four other terrorists,” in neighboring Iraq on Tuesday.

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – One of the alleged masterminds of the Islamic State-claimed attack in the south of Iran’s Ahvaz last month was killed, along with “four other terrorists,” in neighboring Iraq on Tuesday, the country’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said in a statement.

According to the IRGC, the targeted organizer of the Ahvaz attack was known as Abu Zahi. The five were killed “during a reconnaissance and surprise operation by forces of the resistance this morning in Iraq’s Diyala province,” northeast of Baghdad, the statement added.

The IRGC uses the term “resistance” when referencing the Iranian-backed Shia militias operating in Iraq and Syria, which are trained by Iran’s guards.

The Ahvaz attack took place on Sep. 22 during a military parade in the mainly ethnic Arab city, located in southwestern Iran. The assault killed at least 25 people, and about 60 more were wounded.

Claims of responsibility for the attack were released by both IS and a separatist group called Ahvaz National Resistance.

On Oct. 1, IRGC claimed it launched ballistic missiles into eastern Syria, targeting militants in retaliation for the Ahvaz attack.

Editing by Nadia Riva