Iran intelligence forces arrest 17 mercenaries involved in US-Israeli-backed riots

The Iranian Ministry of Intelligence has announced the arrest of 17 agents of the US-Israeli enemy, who were involved in acts of sabotage and terror during the foreign-backed riots that swept across Iran in January.

The ministry announced in a statement on Saturday that the mercenaries included three leaders, who were identified and captured by its forces in the western Iranian province of Ilam.

The statement identified the three detainees leading the January riots as Murad A, Mahdi K, and Reza F, emphasizing they were identified and arrested following surveillance operations and public reports.

The Iranian Ministry of Intelligence further noted that those nabbed are violent thugs from the cities of Ilam, Malekshahi, and Sarabelah, who also played a role each during the January foreign-backed riots to undermine national security.

They destroyed and set fire to public properties and places, fired shots, and took pictures as well as video footage during their acts of terror, as they attempted to  create insecurity and terrorize people.

The ministry stated that three TNT cartridges, a Kalashnikov assault rifle, a grenade, and a large number of cold weapons, including machetes, were discovered and confiscated from the captured leaders.

The statement highlighted that the rest of the detainees were apparently looking for favorable opportunities to carry out the US-Israeli enemy's plots during the recent US-Israeli war of aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The intelligence ministry noted that most of the arrested mercenaries, while providing information to foreign intelligence services and anti-Iran monarchist groups, were active in carrying out terrorist attacks during the January riots, and played a substantial role in attacking police stations and law enforcement forces in various parts of Ilam province.

In January, a wave of peaceful protests broke out among merchants in Tehran and other cities in Iran due to economic struggles worsened by years of Western sanctions.

The authorities recognized the legitimacy of the protesters' demands, yet the demonstrations were hijacked by rioters supported by leaders from the American and Israeli regimes, who incited vandalism and chaos.

Officials stated that several of these mercenaries were armed, trained, and recruited by spy agencies from the US and Israel to provoke violence, destroy public property, and target civilians and security personnel.

Iran's Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs reported in a statement that 3,117 individuals had died during the riots.

The report clarified that among those killed, 2,427 were innocent civilians and members of security forces.

According to the statement, many of the victims were bystanders and protesters who lost their lives due to gunfire from organized terrorist groups.

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