Iran is facing a growing internal security challenge as a coalition of Baloch separatist groups and Sunni militants steps up attacks on security forces in the country’s volatile southeast. The escalation opens a new front for Tehran as it grapples with mounting regional pressures and raises questions over the reach of its security apparatus.
The People’s Fighters Front (JMM), a coalition formed in December 2025, has claimed six attacks across Iran’s Sistan and Baluchistan and Kerman provinces, according to Fox News. The Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) documented at least 63 armed incidents between March 31 and October 10, resulting in at least 94 deaths and 33 injuries, according to the report. On October 14, attacks reportedly killed female members of the Basij paramilitary force, including a commander, as well as a police officer.
The coalition operates in Sistan and Baluchistan, a predominantly Sunni region bordering Pakistan and Afghanistan, where longstanding ethnic grievances, economic marginalisation and allegations of discrimination have fuelled unrest against the Iranian government. The violence also reflects a longstanding challenge for Tehran in Sistan and Baluchistan, where ethnic Baloch communities have faced economic marginalisation and allegations of discrimination. The region’s proximity to Pakistan and Afghanistan, coupled with a history of militant activity, complicates Iran’s efforts to secure its southeastern border.