Ansar Al-Furqan

This article is about the Sunni militant group in Iran. For the Syrian militant group, see Jama'at Ansar al-Furqan in Bilad al Sham.

Ansar Al-Furqan (Arabic: انصار الفرقان, lit. 'Partisans of the Criterion'^[3]) is a Sunni Baloch militant organization active in Sistan and Baluchestan insurgency. The group was established in December 2013 by a merger of Harakat al-Ansar (Arabic: حرکةالانصار) and Hizbul-Furqan (Arabic: حزب‌الفرقان).^[4] The organization is a designated terrorist organization by Iran, Pakistan and China.

Ansar Al-Furqan
Ansar Al-Furqan uses the Black Standard
Leaders	Hesham Azizi † (2013–2015)[citation needed] Jalil Qanbarzehi † (2015–2017)[1] Unknown (2017–present)
Dates of operation	2013–Present
Allegiance	Al-Qaeda
Motives	Baloch Nationalism Separatism Sunni Islamism Sunni Jihadism Sectarianism Anti-Iranian sentiment Anti-Khomeinism Anti-Shi'ism
Headquarters	Unknown[citation needed]
Active regions	Sistan and Baluchestan province Khuzestan province
Ideology	Salafist jihadism
Major actions	Attacks (including suicide attacks) targeting Iranian politicians, state officials, government centres, and military officers Cross-border raids from Afghanistan and other countries against Iranian border troops.
Status	Active (low-level)
Size	Unknown
Part of	Al-Qaeda
Allies	Al-Qaeda[2] Jaish ul-Adl
Opponents	Iran Pakistan China
Battles and wars	Sistan and Baluchestan insurgency Arab separatism in Khuzestan
Designated as a terrorist group by	Iran Pakistan China
Preceded by Harakat Ansar Iran and Hizbul-Furqan

Attacks

According to Terrorism Research & Analysis Consortium, the organization has ties to Al Qaeda, Katibat al Asad Al 'Islamia, Jeish Muhammad, the Al-Nusra Front, Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham and Jaish-ul-Adl.^[5]

On June 13, 2016, militants attempted to carry out an attack in Khash, Sistan and Baluchestan, leaving five terrorist and an officer dead in the ensuing clash.^[6][7] 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.^[8][9]

They also took responsibility for 2018 Chabahar suicide bombing which killed two people and injured around 48 others. Days later, Iranian authorities arrested ten suspects in carrying out the attack.^[10]

On January 25, 2024, they claimed that it fired small arms targeting a police station in Zahedan, Sistan and Baluchistan Province.^[11]