Operation Marg Bar Sarmachar (Lit. 'Death to Insurgents') was the codename of a retaliatory strike carried out by Pakistan through the Pakistan Air Force against seven targets of the Balochistan Liberation Army and Balochistan Liberation Front militant groups in the Sistan and Baluchestan province of Iran in the early hours of 18 January 2024. This is the first time since the Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988) that any country has striked the state of Iran.
Pakistan's Operation Marg Bar Sarmachar targeted terrorist hideouts in Iran's Sistan-o-Baluchistan province. The move, a response to ongoing threats, showcased Pakistan's commitment to national security. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs cited concerns about terrorists finding safe havens in Iran, leading to the operation. Pakistan stressed respect for Iran's sovereignty, emphasizing the mission's sole purpose: safeguarding its own security. The press release urged international cooperation against terrorism.