14 IRGC Members Killed in Zanjan Ammunition Explosion, Including Senior Commander
Fourteen IRGC members, including a senior commander, killed in a munitions blast in Zanjan province. The explosion occurred during efforts to clear unexploded U.S.-Israeli ordnance from recent airstrikes.
Fourteen members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) were killed and two others injured in a powerful explosion Friday during a munitions clearance operation in Zanjan province, northwestern Iran, according to Iranian media and IRGC statements.
The blast occurred as IRGC demolition teams from the Ansar al-Mahdi unit were working to neutralize unexploded ordnance left over from recent U.S.-Israeli airstrikes. The area contained cluster bombs and air mines dropped during the conflict that ended with a ceasefire in early April.
Among those killed was senior IRGC commander Ali Mousavi Havai, a veteran sapper who had worked in bomb disposal for years.
Official Statements
Iranian outlets, including Fars News and Nournews (considered close to security services), reported the incident as a tragic accident during routine clearance work. The IRGC described the teams as entering a “contaminated area” to identify and destroy remnants from the war.
This marks the deadliest reported loss for the IRGC since hostilities paused. Iran is still dealing with thousands of hectares of contaminated land containing unexploded munitions.
No claims of responsibility or sabotage have emerged, and officials have not linked the blast to ongoing diplomatic tensions or the U.S. naval blockade.