Azerbaijan has accused Iran of launching a “terrorist” drone attack on an airport in its Nakhchivan exclave, injuring four civilians and raising fears that the US-Israel conflict with Iran could spread beyond the Middle East. Azerbaijan’s defence ministry said Iran fired four drones, one of which struck the terminal building at Nakhchivan’s only airport, while another fell near a school in a nearby village.
President Ilham Aliyev announced that he had instructed the military to “prepare and implement response measures,” stating, “We will not tolerate this unprovoked act of terror and aggression against Azerbaijan.” He demanded an official explanation, an apology, and criminal accountability from Iran, adding that Azerbaijan “neither participated nor will participate in any operations against Iran this time around.”
Iran has denied involvement. Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said, “The Islamic Republic of Iran has not targeted the Republic of Azerbaijan. We do not target our neighbouring countries.” Social media footage appeared to show a drone striking the airport before a fire broke out.
Analysts say the attack, if confirmed, would be a serious incident. Zaur Shiriyev of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace noted that airports are critical infrastructure, making the strike difficult to dismiss as an accident. The timing is notable: a day earlier, Aliyev had visited the Iranian embassy in Baku to offer condolences over the killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli strikes.
Baku’s growing military cooperation with Israel has caused friction with Tehran, though both countries are majority Shia Muslim and maintain pragmatic relations. The incident could raise tensions in the Caucasus, where Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia have all proclaimed neutrality in the war. Further attacks could disrupt global air travel, as Azerbaijan’s airspace is a key corridor for flights between Asia and Europe avoiding Russian airspace.
