BAKU – In a sharp escalation of tensions, Azerbaijan has summoned the Iranian ambassador following a pair of drone attacks that injured two civilians near an airport terminal and a school in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. The incidents, which caused damage to critical infrastructure, have prompted Baku to issue a stern condemnation and demand immediate accountability from Tehran.
Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry released a detailed statement outlining the attacks: one drone struck the terminal building at the Nakhchivan airport, while another crashed near a school in Shakarabad village. ‘We strongly condemn these drone strikes originating from the territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which resulted in damage to the airport building and injuries to two ordinary citizens,’ the ministry declared.
The ministry emphasized that the strikes violate international law and represent a dangerous provocation. Azerbaijan has called on Iran to provide swift clarifications, take concrete steps to prevent future incidents, and reserve the right to respond in kind if necessary. The Iranian envoy was formally summoned to receive this protest in person.
This marks the first time Iran has targeted a Caucasus state amid the ongoing US-Israel conflict with Tehran. Azerbaijan, maintaining a neutral stance in the Middle East turmoil, has recently deepened ties with Israel and the Trump administration while cooling relations with traditional ally Moscow.
No US military bases operate in Azerbaijan, suggesting Iran’s strikes are expanding beyond direct American targets. Baku’s growing military cooperation with Israel has strained relations with neighbor Iran, despite practical ties and shared Shia Muslim majorities. Iran hosts an estimated 15-20 million ethnic Azeris, many in its northwestern provinces bordering Azerbaijan.
As regional dynamics shift, this incident underscores the fragility of Caucasus security and the spillover risks from broader Middle East conflicts. Azerbaijan vows vigilance, urging de-escalation while preparing defensive measures.