Iranian IRGC commander killed during fighting with protesters
The incident occurred in the Sistan and Baluchistan province, which was the site of a violent crackdown against protesters last year.
A leader in Iran’s elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) was killed during protests today.
What happened: Ali Mousavi, IRGC intelligence chief in the Sistan and Baluchistan province, was shot during clashes between protesters and security forces in the city of Zahedan. He was brought to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead, the IRGC-affiliated Tasnim News Agency reported.
The London-based Iran International reported that there were protests that erupted into clashes in Zahedan today.
Why it matters: Mousavi’s death constitutes a major escalation in the anti-government protests and riots that began in mid-September. The Oslo-based Iran Human Rights organization said yesterday that at least 83 people have been killed by security forces since the protests began.
