Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency says gunmen have killed eight Iranian border guards in the country’s volatile south-east, near the border with Pakistan.

The report says the attack happened on Monday in Sistan-Baluchistan province. Fars says four of the soldiers killed were conscripts.

The area has been the scene of occasional clashes between Iranian forces and militant groups believed to be affiliated with al-Qaida. It was the second incident reported there in a day.

Earlier on Monday, Iran’s official news agency, IRNA, said Revolutionary Guard units broke up a militant group linked to a foreign intelligence agency, killed three of its members and detained several others. IRNA also said Guard forces confiscated a large amount of weapons and communication equipment.