TEHRAN, May 2 (Bernama-Xinhua) -- Fourteen members of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) were killed and two others wounded on Friday due to a blast caused by an unexploded ordnance in the northwestern province of Zanjan, according to the official news agency IRNA, reported Xinhua.
The explosion occurred as IRGC members were defusing unexploded ordnance left from the United States (US) and Israeli airstrikes during the 40-day conflict with Iran, the report said, quoting a statement from Zanjan's Ansar al-Mahdi Corps, a provincial unit of the IRGC.
It added that the lethal explosion was caused by an unknown munition, noting all the victims were among the IRGC's most experienced, well-trained, and specialised forces.
According to the statement, the Ansar al-Mahdi Corps had identified and neutralised more than 15,000 unexploded ordnances.
On Feb. 28, Israel and the US launched joint attacks on Tehran and other Iranian cities, killing Iran's then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, senior commanders, and civilians.
Iran responded with waves of missile and drone strikes targeting Israel and US assets in West Asia.
A ceasefire was achieved between the conflicting parties on April 8.
-- BERNAMA-XINHUA
