Balochistan: Attack on Courthouse in Zahedan Leaves Dozens Dead and Wounded

DOZZAAP (ZAHEDAN):  At least 30 people were killed or injured on Saturday morning after an armed group launched a coordinated attack on the main judiciary building in Zahedan, the capital of Iranian-Occupied Balochistan.

The militant group Jaish al-Adl claimed responsibility for the assault, calling it a response to what it described as years of state oppression against Baloch citizens.

According to local sources, the attack began at approximately 8:35 AM when several armed men stormed the judiciary building on Azadi Street. Gunmen targeted the offices of judges and court officials, triggering an extended gun battle with security personnel stationed on multiple floors of the complex.

Eyewitnesses reported heavy gunfire and explosions. Jaish al-Adl, in a statement, said the building was a symbol of the Iranian regime’s repression and accused it of issuing death sentences and detaining Baloch youth, scholars and ordinary citizens. The group also claimed the judiciary has played a role in demolishing Sunni mosques and homes belonging to vulnerable residents.

According to the Jaish’s statement, after breaching the building, the attackers cleared the ground floor and engaged in intense fire fights with guards on the upper levels. Security personnel opened fire indiscriminately at civilians, particularly those in traditional Balochi attire, raising concerns about civilian casualties. Several non-combatants, including court staff, were reported among the dead and wounded.

The group said, “Jaish al-Adl fighters later retreated briefly to avoid further harm to civilians.”  However, after observing heavy security reinforcements surrounding the building, they launched a second wave of attacks using mortars and hand grenades, targeting Iranian forces near the site. This renewed assault resulted in additional casualties among the security forces.

Three members of Jaish al-Adl’s elite Fidayeen Adl Elahi “Devotees of Divine Justice” were killed in the operation.

According to the group, they managed to kill several regime personnel before being overpowered. Explosions were heard across Zahedan, and smoke was seen rising from various neighbourhoods throughout the morning.

Following the attack, Iranian forces imposed a high-security lockdown across the city. Military checkpoints were established, and all movement near the judiciary complex was restricted. Local residents reported that in the chaos, government forces opened fire on nearby civilians, with additional injuries feared.

Iranian state media confirmed that three attackers were killed. It also reported the deaths of five judiciary and security personnel, with at least 15 others wounded. Jaish al-Adl claimed higher casualties on the government side.

In a statement, Jaish al-Adl warned judicial officials to consider themselves targets, describing the judiciary as the “most oppressive arm of the Wilayat-e-Faqih regime.” The group reaffirmed its commitment to armed resistance and vowed to continue operations in response to systemic abuses against Iran’s oppressed minorities.

It is worth noting that Iranian forces continue to carry out brutalities and atrocities against the Baloch people across Iranian-Occupied Balochistan.

In Chabahar and surrounding areas along the coastal belt, Iranian forces have demolished several homes belonging to Baloch residents under the pretext of “coastal development” and other so-called security concerns.

Iran also continues to execute Baloch individuals on trumped-up charges. As recently as July 21, Iranian authorities executed a group of six Baloch prisoners in Zahedan prison.

Human rights organisations have expressed concern over the rising violence and the mistreatment of civilians during security operations. International observers have long criticized Iran’s human rights record, and this latest incident is likely to draw renewed global attention to the region.