Iran's Sunni rebels kidnapped five border guards in southeastern Sistan and Baluchestan province of the country, local media reported on Sunday.

Iranian forces started searching operations in Jakigour region in Sistan and Baluchestan province after being informed that five border guards were missing, according to Semi-official Fars news agency.

Reports said that the kidnapped guards had been transferred to Pakistan which has a long border with Iran.

The Jeish-al-Adl Sunni group, based in Pakistan, claimed responsibility for the abduction by posting a photo of the kidnapped on its Twitter on Saturday.

In October 2013, the armed clash between the Sunni rebel group and Iranian forces in a mountainous area near Saravan city bordering Pakistan left 17 guards killed and many injured.

Last November, Jeish-al-Adl claimed responsibility for the assassination of a prosecutor in Zabol city in Sistan and Baluchestan.

Sistan and Baluchestan province, which is mostly populated by the Sunni Muslims, has been the scene of bloody clashes between the Sunni rebels and the Iranian security forces in the past years.

The region is also located at the crossroad of the international drug smuggling route from Afghanistan and Pakistan to Europe.