Iran reportedly hangs 16 ‘rebels’ to retaliate killing of border guards

PanARMENIAN.Net - Iran's authorities have reportedly hanged 16 "rebels" of an unspecified armed group in retaliation for the death of 14 (or more) border guards in clashes near the frontier with Pakistan.

According to the Associated Press, Iranian media quoted local judicial official Mohammad Marzieh as saying that the 16 were executed on Saturday, Oct 26 morning hours after the rebels ambushed the border guards near the town of Saravan in southeast Iran.

Drug smugglers have occasionally ambushed Iranian troops in the area. Ethnic Baluch armed groups also operate there, but recently have been much less active.

The report provided few other details. It did not mention a trial, suggesting the prisoners may already have been convicted and sentenced to death, and their executions moved up after the ambush.