Watan-An Iranian soldier opened fire on his comrades inside a barracks in Kerman province, resulting in the death of five individuals.

The official Iranian television reported that a soldier fired on his fellow soldiers, leading to the killing of five of them in the city of Kerman in the southeast of the country. This is the same city that witnessed explosions earlier this month.

The official television mentioned that the shooting occurred when the soldier reached the barracks’ quarters and opened fire on the soldiers who were relaxing.

It added that the motive was not immediately clear, and the suspect, whose identity has not been disclosed, is at large.

Incidents of gunfire are occasionally reported at military bases in Iran.

In 2022, another soldier killed a fellow soldier and three police officers at a police station in the southern part of the country.

Military service, mandatory for men aged 19 and above in Iran, lasts up to 24 months.

Incident in a city with January explosions

The attack took place in the city of Kerman, approximately 830 kilometers (515 miles) southeast of the capital, Tehran.

Kerman was the scene of two deadly explosions earlier this month on a route witnessing events commemorating the fourth anniversary of the assassination of Qassem Soleimani, the commander of the Quds Force of the Revolutionary Guards, in Kerman province. The explosions resulted in the death of more than 100 people.

ISIS claims responsibility for the bombings

The day after, the Islamic State group, also known as ISIS, claimed responsibility for the attacks in the Iranian city.

Tehran vowed to retaliate against the attack, describing it as the bloodiest in Iran since the Islamic Revolution in 1979.