A violent terrorist assault unfolded in southeastern Iran on Friday when heavily armed militants stormed a judiciary building in Zahedan, the capital of Sistan-Baluchestan province, killing at least eight people, including five civilians and three attackers. The deadly ambush has been claimed by the Sunni extremist group Jaish al-Adl, which has been active in the volatile region for years.

Gunfire and explosions rocked the area surrounding the courthouse, leading to chaos and panic among residents. According to Iran’s official judiciary news outlet, Mizan Online, the attackers breached security and stormed directly into the judges’ chambers. At least 13 people were injured and rushed to nearby hospitals, several of them critically.

Reports from the semi-official Fars News Agency suggest that the attack may have included a suicide bomber, though details are still being verified. Iranian state media outlets IRNA and Mehr News Agency also confirmed the extent of casualties.

Human rights group HAALVSH, which monitors unrest in the Baluch region, stated that several judiciary staff and security officers were either killed or seriously injured in the attack.

Iranian security forces responded swiftly, launching a counter-operation that resulted in the deaths of three attackers. Authorities have since secured the site and launched a full-scale investigation into how the breach occurred.

Sistan-Baluchestan, a restive province bordering Pakistan and Afghanistan, has frequently witnessed unrest tied to ethnic and sectarian tensions. The region’s Sunni Muslim Baluch minority has long complained of economic neglect and political exclusion by Iran’s predominantly Shia-led government.

Jaish al-Adl, a designated terrorist organization in Iran, has previously targeted border guards, police, and military outposts in the area. The group claims to advocate for Sunni rights but is accused by Iranian officials of having ties to foreign intelligence networks and engaging in cross-border terrorism and drug smuggling.

Iranian officials swiftly condemned Friday’s assault, calling it an act of terrorism aimed at undermining national security. The Ministry of Interior has raised alert levels across the province and urged residents to stay away from the courthouse vicinity as forensic teams and counterterror units continue their work.