Two Iranian border guards killed during anti-smuggling operation in northwestern Iran

The Law Enforcement Force of the Islamic Republic of Iran announced that the guards lost their lives as several smugglers sought to sneak through the border undetected near the city of Sardasht, located some 730 kilometers (453 miles) west of the capital, late on Friday and were trying to import contraband items. The report identified the two fallen border guards as Sergeant Matin Saedi and Private Mehdi Maleki, adding that the bandits were captured and their goods confiscated. Back on May 29, three Iranian border guards were killed during clashes with members of a terrorist group in the same area. Over the past years, Iranian security forces and border guards have engaged in clashes with foreign-backed terror groups, many of whom cross the country's borders with Pakistan and Iraq to carry out attacks. Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) announced back on June 24 last year that its forces had dismantled a four-member gang of terrorists in West Azarbaijan province. The IRGC's Hamzeh Seyed al-Shohada Base said in a statement at the time that the terrorist group was disbanded during skirmishes in Chaldoran region. It added that the IRGC forces managed to kill one terrorist, and injure two others. The last member of the gang was captured as well. A considerable amount of weapons, ammunition and telecommunication systems were also confiscated from the terrorists, the statement noted. The US and its allies such as Saudi Arabia, along with their spy agencies, actively sponsor terror outfits which are seeking to disrupt Iran's security. SOURCE: PRESS TV