Iran probes whether Azerbaijan helped Israel in war as border residents report hearing drones, fighter jets

Iran’s military and intelligence forces have launched an investigation into allegations that Azerbaijan could have helped Israel in the 12-day war. Azerbaijan, a predominantly Shi'a country, had refuted allegations that it aided Israel in any manner, stating allegations otherwise were "open provocation".

 

Iran is bounded to the north by Azerbaijan and the countries share approximately 689 km long border, which was sealed until the war broke out. Baku is also Tel Aviv's most significant partner and the only Muslim-majority nation which supported Israel in its war against Iran. 

 

Though the Iranian military is yet to confirm anything, residents of Iranian provinces of Gilan and Mazandaran, which lie near Azerbaijan, reported hearing what "drones or fighter jets" during the Israeli attacks. Iran's semi-state media Tehran Times, quoted a resident in eastern Gilan who said, "a location in the city of Rasht was struck shortly after she heard such noises."

 

Some residents in the province of Ardabil, which has land borders with the Caucasian country, also reported seeing drones flying from behind the mountains that separate the two nations. 

 

To the reports, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman, Esmaeil Baqaei, said a probe is on. He said all of Iran’s neighbouring countries had assured Tehran that they would not allow Israel to use their territory against Iran. "All these countries firmly asserted that such incidents have not happened and will not happen in the future," he said.

 

Baqaei added that Iran’s military and intelligence forces were independently investigating the matter. 

 

Iranian President Masood Pezeshkian urged Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev during a call last week to investigate and verify reports that Israeli drones, including micro-drones, may have entered Iranian airspace via Azerbaijani territory. 

 

However, tempers flared when  Iranian Ambassador to Armenia Mehdi Sobhani insinuated that Baku allowed its territory to be used by Israel to attack Iran. ‘It is possible that our enemy, [Israel], made use of the territory of our neighbouring state. Azerbaijan has assured us that it will not allow its territory to be used against Iran. However, we all know [Israel] very well: they do not follow any rules, they do not observe any laws. Therefore, there is still a possibility that they were able to take advantage of the moment," Sobhani said. 

 

The statement triggered Baku, which issued an angry statement. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Aykhan Hajizada called Sobhani’s comments an ‘open provocation’.

 

"Azerbaijan categorically refutes allegations that its airspace or territory was used by any state to conduct military operations against the neighbouring [Iran] or any other country. Such claims are baseless and lack any credible evidence," Hajizada said.

Middle East