Drones launched from Iran struck Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan exclave on Thursday, injuring two civilians and damaging the airport, Azerbaijani officials said. The attack, which borders Iran and Turkey, prompted Azerbaijan to vow retaliatory measures and has raised concerns about a potential escalation of conflict in the region.
Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that one drone hit the terminal building of Nakhchivan Airport, while another fell near a school in the village of Shakarabad. President Ilham Aliyev described the strikes as a “cowardly terrorist act” and demanded accountability for those responsible.
“The Azerbaijani state strongly condemns this ugly terrorist act, and those who committed it must be immediately held accountable,” Aliyev said in a statement released by his office. He added that Iranian officials must provide an explanation and offer an apology.
Azerbaijan’s defense ministry announced it was “preparing necessary retaliatory measures to defend the country’s territorial integrity and sovereignty” and protect its citizens. The ministry stated that the acts of aggression “will not remain unanswered.”
Iran has denied responsibility for the attack. However, Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry explicitly accused Iran of launching the drones, summoning Iranian Ambassador Mojtaba Demirchilou to protest the incident.
The Nakhchivan exclave, a geographically isolated region of Azerbaijan, is strategically located between Armenia, Iran, and Turkey. The attack on the airport, the region’s only air gateway, raises concerns about potential disruptions to travel and commerce.
The incident occurs against a backdrop of heightened regional tensions, linked to the ongoing conflict involving Iran, Israel, and the United States. The timing of the attack, following a series of escalating events in the Middle East, has prompted speculation about potential connections, though no direct link has been established.
Reuters reported that government sources indicated four Iranian drones crossed the border, resulting in four injuries. However, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed only two injuries.
Azerbaijan has reserved the right to respond to the attack, and the situation remains fluid. As of Thursday evening, no specific retaliatory actions had been announced, and Iranian officials have not publicly addressed the accusations beyond the initial denial.
