For the first time since the military conflict in the Middle East began, Iran has launched a drone attack on Azerbaijani territory. The incident left civilians injured, while Tehran has not yet commented on the strike.
According to reports from Deutsche Welle, two Shahed-136 drones crashed near the airport in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, an Azerbaijani exclave bordering Iran, and near a school in the village of Shakarabad.
Read also: Ghost drones: Unexplained crashes in Kazakhstan’s west prompt urgent safety tips.
Two civilians were injured in the strikes, and part of the airport building was damaged.
Azerbaijan warns of retaliation
The Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan said it is preparing necessary retaliatory measures to protect the country’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, as well as the safety of civilians and critical infrastructure.
Officials said such attacks would not go unanswered.
Baku demands investigation
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan described the strike as a violation of international law and warned that it risks further escalating tensions in the region.
In a statement, the ministry said Azerbaijan demands that Iran provide a clear explanation as soon as possible, conduct a thorough investigation and take urgent steps to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The Azerbaijani side added that it reserves the right to take appropriate response measures.
The Iranian ambassador to Baku was summoned to the Foreign Ministry and handed a formal note of protest.
Iranian authorities have not publicly commented on the incident.
Historical ties and regional context
Ethnic Azerbaijanis represent one of the largest minority groups in Iran. Various estimates suggest that between 15 million and 30 million Azerbaijanis live in the country, making them the second-largest ethnic group and accounting for roughly 16% to more than 30% of Iran’s population.
Kazakhstan maintains friendly relations with both Azerbaijan and Iran. Cooperation between Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan includes infrastructure and economic projects, such as plans to lay a fiber-optic communication cable along the bottom of the Caspian Sea, develop the Kendirli resort, and expand direct air connections.
Regarding the broader conflict involving Iran, Israel, and the U.S., Kazakhstan’s Foreign Ministry has said the country maintains a consistent policy of non-interference in the internal affairs of other states.
Read also: Mojtaba Khamenei is Iran’s new leader amidst war.
On Feb. 28, the U.S. and Israel launched a large-scale military operation against Iran. In response, Iran carried out missile strikes against several countries in the region, including Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, and Kuwait. Hundreds of people have reportedly been killed in Iran since the conflict began.
