Azerbaijan has accused Iran of launching a 'terrorist' drone attack on an airport in the Nakhchivan exclave, injuring four civilians. The Azerbaijani defence ministry stated that Iran fired four drones, one of which struck the terminal building at the only airport in Nakhchivan, while another fell near a school in a nearby village.
President Ilham Aliyev announced that he had instructed the military to prepare response measures, declaring that Azerbaijan would not tolerate this 'unprovoked act of terror and aggression'. He demanded an official explanation, an apology, and criminal accountability from Iran. Aliyev emphasised that Azerbaijan had not participated in any operations against Iran.
Iran has denied responsibility. Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi stated that Iran had not targeted Azerbaijan and does not target neighbouring countries. Social media footage appeared to show a drone striking the airport, followed by a fire.
The incident raises concerns that the US-Israel conflict with Iran could spread beyond the Middle East. Azerbaijan, which has adopted a neutral stance, has recently strengthened ties with Israel and the US while moving away from Russia. The country hosts no US military bases, suggesting Iran may be expanding its strikes beyond nations directly linked to American forces.
Analysts noted that if confirmed, the attack would be a serious incident. The timing is notable as Aliyev had visited the Iranian embassy in Baku a day earlier to offer condolences over the killing of the supreme leader. Baku's growing military cooperation with Israel has caused friction with Tehran, though both countries are majority Shia Muslim and share close ties.
The drone strike could raise tensions in the Caucasus region, where Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia have all proclaimed neutrality. Further attacks on Azerbaijan could disrupt global air travel, as its airspace is a key corridor for flights between Asia and Europe avoiding Russian airspace. Potential Iranian targets could include the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, which supplies a significant portion of Israel's oil imports.
