Harakat Ansar Iran

Harakat Ansar Iran
Participant in Sistan and Baluchestan insurgency
Harakat Ansar Iran
Active	2012–2013
Ideology	Salafist jihadism anti-Islamic Republic of Iran
Leaders	Mohammad Shafi † Abu Hafs al Baloochi
Area of operations	Sistan and Baluchestan Province, Iran
Originated as	Jundallah
Became	Ansar Al-Furqan
Allies	Jaish ul-Adl
Opponents	Iran

Harakat Ansar Iran (Persian: حرکت انصار ایران‎‎; Movement of the Partisans of Iran)^[1] was a Sunni militant organization active in 2012–2013 in the Sistan and Baluchestan insurgency and a designated terrorist organization by Iran. It was one of two militant groups, along with its ally Jaish ul-Adl, which split from Jundallah after the arrest of its leader in 2010.^[1]

Harakat Ansar was initially led by Mohammad Shafi who was killed in Pakistan. After his death, Hesham Azizi a.k.a. Abu Hafs al Baloochi became the leader.^[2] According to Mashregh News, the group received support from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Taliban.^[3]

The group later dropped "Iran" from their name, calling themselves Harakat al-Ansar (Arabic: حرکة الانصار‎‎) which is in Arabic instead of former Persian name. The group merged with Hizbul-Furqan and formed Ansar Al-Furqan in late 2013.^[4]

References

1. "Iran calls for return of abducted border guards held in Pakistan". The Telegraph. 28 March 2014. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
2. "دستاوردهای‌ یک عملیات؛ چرا عملیات علیه هسته مرکزی گروهک "انصار الفرقان" مهم بود؟" (in Persian). Mashregh News. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
3. "نگرانی سلفی ها از مدل اهل سنت ایران؛ قطر در جنوب شرق ایران به دنبال چیست/ گروهک انصار ایران چگونه شکل گرفت؟" (in Persian). Mashregh News. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
4. "Iran Sunni Baloch Insurgents: "Union With Hizbul-Furqan Strengthens Our Front Against Safavids"". EA WorldView. December 21, 2013. Retrieved 20 October 2014.