Unlike the Gulf states and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, Azerbaijan is not widely known to host United States military bases, which has raised questions about why the country was targeted.
Iran has not officially explained why it launched drones at an airport in the autonomous Nakhchivan region. However, analysts suggest the move may be linked to Azerbaijan’s close strategic relationship with Israel and the United States.
Azerbaijan, located on Iran’s north-western border, is a secular country with a majority Shia Muslim population. Over the years, its ties with Israel have grown stronger, especially since the early 2000s.
The country is one of the major buyers of Israeli military equipment, while Israel imports significant amounts of oil from Azerbaijan. The two nations are also believed to maintain close intelligence cooperation, particularly in monitoring activities within Iran.
Iran has repeatedly accused Azerbaijan of allowing Israel’s intelligence agency, Mossad, to operate from its territory. Tehran claims this cooperation has helped Mossad carry out operations against Iranian targets, including the assassination of Iranian nuclear scientists.
Azerbaijan, however, has consistently denied these allegations, insisting that its territory is not used for operations against Iran.
