Ansar Al-Furqan

Ansar Al-Furqan (Arabic: انصار الفرقان, lit. 'Partisans of the Criterion'^[3]) is a Sunni Baloch militant organization active in Sistan and Baluchestan insurgency and a designated terrorist organization by Iran. The group was established in December 2013 by a merger of Harakat al-Ansar (Arabic: حرکةالانصار) and Hizbul-Furqan (Arabic: حزب‌الفرقان).^[4]

Ansar Al-Furqan
Ansar Al-Furqan uses Black Standard
Leaders	Hesham Azizi † (2013–2015)[citation needed] Jalil Qanbarzehi † (2015–2017)[1]
Dates of operation	2013–Present
Active regions	Sistan and Baluchestan Province Khuzestan Province
Ideology	Salafist jihadism
Allies	Al-Qaeda[2]
Opponents	Iran
Preceded by Harakat Ansar Iran and Hizbul-Furqan

Attacks

According to Terrorism Research & Analysis Consortium, they have ties to Katibat al Asad Al ‘Islamia, Jeish Muhammad, Al-Nusra Front and Jaish ul-Adl.^[5]

In June 13, 2016, militants attempted to carry out an attack in Khash, Sistan and Baluchestan, left five terrorist and an officer death in the ensuing clash.^[6][7] During the 2017-18 Iranian protests, Ansar Al-Furqan claimed responsibility for bombing an oil pipeline in Ahvaz, a city located in Iran's Khuzestan province.^[8][9]

They also took responsibility for 2018 Chabahar suicide bombing which killed two people and injured around 48 others. Days later, Iranian authorities arrested ten suspects in carrying out the attack.^[10]

On January 25, 2024, they claimed that it fired small arms targeting a police station in Zahedan, Sistan and Baluchistan Province.^[11]

References

1. "IRGC kills Ansar al-Furqan ringleader". Tehran Times. 20 June 2017. Archived from the original on 3 December 2017. Retrieved 1 December 2017.
2. "Al-Qaeda linked Ansar al-Furqan claims deadly car bombing in Iran's southeast port city Chabahar". The Defense Post. December 6, 2018. Archived from the original on December 10, 2018. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
3. "The Evolution of the Ethnic Baluch Insurgency in Iran". CTC Sentinel. 26 March 2014. Archived from the original on 9 October 2017. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
4. "Iran Sunni Baloch Insurgents: "Union With Hizbul-Furqan Strengthens Our Front Against Safavids"". EA WorldView. 21 December 2013. Archived from the original on 23 April 2019. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
5. "Ansar Al Furqan". Terrorism Research & Analysis Consortium. 28 March 2014. Archived from the original on 19 April 2015. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
6. "Terror in Tehran: The Islamic State Goes to War with the Islamic Republic". Combating Terrorism Center. 27 June 2017. Retrieved 2023-07-29.
7. "GTD ID:201606130040". Global Terrorism Database. Retrieved 2023-07-29.
8. "Sunni jihadists claim they blew up Iran oil pipeline". The Washington Post. 30 December 2017. Archived from the original on 30 December 2017. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
9. Weiss, Caleb (December 30, 2017). "Iran-based jihadist group claims attack on oil pipeline". Foundation for Defense of Democracies. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved December 31, 2017. Ansar al Furqan states that "a major oil pipeline was blown up in Omidiyeh region of occupied Ahvaz, Iran." The group added that it had established a new unit, the Ahwaz Martyrs Brigade. The area of Ahvaz has historically had a large Arab population.
10. "Iran arrests 10 suspects in suicide bombing that killed two". Reuters. 9 December 2018. Retrieved 2023-07-30.
11. "Institute for the Study of War". Institute for the Study of War.