TEHRAN, May 1 (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, the official news agency IRNA reported.
The explosion occurred as IRGC members were defusing unexploded ordnance left from U.S. and Israeli airstrikes during the 40-day war against 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 specialized forces.
According to the statement, the Ansar al-Mahdi Corps had identified and neutralized more than 15,000 unexploded ordnances.
On Feb. 28, Israel and the United States 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 U.S. assets in the Middle East.
A ceasefire was achieved between the warring parties on April 8. ■
