Two Iranian Revolutionary Guardsmen die in a gyrocopter crash

Two of Iran's Revolutionary Guardsmen died in a gyrocopter crash in the southeastern region on Monday, the semi-official Fars news agency quoted the force's public relations department as saying.

The accident occurred near Sirkan, a town in Sistan-Baluchustan province on the border with Afghanistan and Pakistan that has long been the scene of frequent clashes between Iranian security forces and Sunni militants and drug traffickers.

“Second Brigadier General Hamid Mazandarani, the commander of the Ninevah Brigade of Golestan Province, and his pilot died in this accident,” the agency said.

However, it was not said why the commander of the brigade stationed in the northern province was visiting the southeast at this time.

Last month, 10 Iranian border guards were killed in clashes with suspected Sunni Muslim militants in the province.