Iran denies launching drone strike on Azerbaijan

Tehran (ANTARA) - Iran on Thursday (5 March) rejected allegations by its neighbour Azerbaijan that it had launched a drone strike into Azerbaijani territory. Iran also hinted that Israel may be behind the attack. Iran’s official news agency IRNA reported that the General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces stated that Iranian forces did not launch any drones into Azerbaijan. It stressed that Iran respects the sovereignty of all states, particularly neighbouring and Muslim countries. The report added that Israel has a history of conducting such operations to sow discord among Muslim countries. The report also asserted that investigations indicated the attack was carried out by Israel to entrap Iran.

Earlier on the same Thursday, Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused Iran of launching a drone strike into the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic from Iranian territory. Azerbaijan’s MFA said the attack, which occurred around local noon, struck the terminal building of Nakhchivan International Airport, wounded two civilians, and caused structural damage. Another drone was reported to have fallen near a school in the village of Shakarabad. Azerbaijan condemned the attack as a “violation of norms and principles of international law”, and warned that such action could heighten regional tensions. The ministry also summoned the Iranian envoy in Baku to lodge a “strong protest” over the incident. Meanwhile, Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Defence said it was “preparing the necessary retaliatory steps”, adding that the attack would not be left unanswered.

The incident comes as regional tensions rise following joint attacks launched since Saturday (28 February) by Israel and the United States against Tehran and other cities in Iran. Iran responded with a wave of missile and drone strikes targeting Israeli and US assets in the Middle East.