A diplomatic row has broken out between Tehran and Baku over allegations that Israeli jets passed through Azerbaijan’s airspace on their way to attack targets in Iran during the 12-day war between the two countries. Evidence in part includes the washing up of external fuel tanks dropped by Israeli jets on Iranian shores on the Caspian Sea and witness accounts of jet noise across the border during attacks on targets in northern Iran.
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.
According to a summary report in The Week, 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 Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry issued an angry statement in response, calling 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,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Aykhan Hajizada said.
