IRGC: 14 martyred in blast during unexploded ordnance clearance in Zanjan

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) says 14 of its personnel were martyred and two others wounded following an explosion during a mine and unexploded ordnance clearance operation in Zanjan province.

According to a statement by the IRGC of Zanjan, the incident occurred on Friday while specialized demolition units were conducting a sensitive mission to identify and neutralize unexploded munitions left by US-Israeli airstrikes against the country.

“The explosion of an unknown and unexploded munition during a counter-improvised explosive device (neutralization) operation led to this tragic incident,” the statement read.

The IRGC emphasized that all of the martyrs were experienced, trained, and specialized personnel working on the front lines to ensure regional security, adding that they sacrificed their lives in the service of the nation’s safety and tranquility.

The IRGC noted that following aerial bombardments by the US and Israeli warplanes using cluster bombs, bomblets, and similar munitions, an extensive operation had been launched to contaminate Zanjan province.

Parts of the region, including an area of over 1,200 hectares, which also covered agricultural lands, were intentionally threatened through aerial mining, the statement said.

In response to this threat, specialized and committed personnel from the IRGC’s demolition battalions in Zanjan launched operations to identify, clear, and neutralize the dangers with high precision and sensitivity.

IRGC forces destroy 3 US bunker-buster bombs, neutralize 9,500 bomblets in Iran’s Zanjan

The IRGC says its specialized forces have managed to destroy three American GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators (MOPs) and defuse another one left behind the recent war of aggression in Iran’s Zanjan Province.

The IRGC expressed condolences to the families of the martyrs and emphasized its continued commitment to safe and responsible service, utilizing specialized expertise and a dedicated approach.

The United States and Israel launched an unprovoked war against Iran on February 28. They assassinated Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and struck nuclear facilities, schools, hospitals and civilian infrastructure.

Iran’s Armed Forces responded with 100 waves of retaliatory strikes under Operation True Promise 4, launching hundreds of ballistic and hypersonic missiles, as well as drones, against American military bases across West Asia and Israeli positions throughout the occupied territories.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk