TEHRAN – The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) forces rescued anIranian engineer who had been kidnapped at an eastern border area in Iranand held hostage inside Afghanistan for ten days, a commander announced,Tasnim has reported.link>link>link>link>Commanderof the IRGC Ground Force’s Quds Base General Mohammad Marani said on Sundaythat the successful mission to free the Iranian national on the Afghan soilfollowed a special intelligence operation and coordination with the legalauthorities.

Hossein Hajmalek, an engineer working for Jahad Nasr company, a contractorcooperating with the IRGC, was kidnapped on a route between the easterncities of Hamoon and Zabol on December 14 on his way back home, thecommander explained.

Kidnappers took the Iranian engineer to Afghanistan, the general added,saying his charred car was found in a village in the Afghan province ofNimruz two days later.

According to the commander, the hostage’s father asked the IRGC Quds Basefor help after the kidnappers demanded ransom and threatened to kill thehostage.

The IRGC fighters launched a special operation following intelligenceactivities and coordination with the authorities and freed Hajmalek onDecember 24, he added.

General Marani also noted that five people have been arrested inside Iranin connection with the hostage taking.