Ansar Al-Furqan

Ansar Al-Furqan (Arabic: انصار الفرقان‎, Partisans of the Criterion[4]) 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).[5]

Ansar Al-Furqan
LeadersHesham Azizi (KIA) (2013–2015)[1]
Jalil Qanbarzehi (KIA) (2015–2017)[2]
Dates of operation2013–Present
Active regionsSistan and Baluchestan Province
Khuzestan Province
IdeologySalafist jihadism
AlliesAl-Qaeda[3]
Opponents Iran

According to Terrorism Research & Analysis Consortium, they have ties to Katibat al Asad Al ‘Islamia, Jeish Muhammad, Al-Nusra Front and Jaish ul-Adl.[6]

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.[7][8]

They also took responsibility for 2018 Chabahar suicide bombing which killed two people and injured around 48 others.

References
  1. "Head of Ansar al-Furqan terrorist group killed in Iran". Press TV. 22 April 2015. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
  2. "IRGC kills Ansar al-Furqan ringleader". Tehran Times. 20 June 2017. Retrieved 1 December 2017.
  3. "Al-Qaeda linked Ansar al-Furqan claims deadly car bombing in Iran's southeast port city Chabahar". The Defense Post. December 6, 2018.
  4. "The Evolution of the Ethnic Baluch Insurgency in Iran". CTC Sentinel. 26 March 2014. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  5. "Iran Sunni Baloch Insurgents: "Union With Hizbul-Furqan Strengthens Our Front Against Safavids"". EA WorldView. 21 December 2013. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  6. "Ansar Al Furqan". Terrorism Research & Analysis Consortium. 28 March 2014. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  7. "Sunni jihadists claim they blew up Iran oil pipeline". The Washington Post. 30 December 2017. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
  8. Weiss, Caleb (December 30, 2017). "Iran-based jihadist group claims attack on oil pipeline". Foundation for the Defense of Democracies. 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.
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