The South Caucasus teeters amid fresh hostilities as Azerbaijan confronts Iran over drone incursions that bloodied civilians near an exclave airport and school. Summoning the ambassador, Baku signals zero tolerance for what it deems territorial aggression.
In a pointed communique, the Foreign Ministry chronicled the strikes: a drone battered Nakhchivan’s airport terminal, another targeted Shakarabad school grounds, all traced to Iranian launch points. ‘We vehemently denounce these attacks,’ it stated, noting wounds to innocents and structural devastation.
Azerbaijan invoked international legal breaches, urging Tehran for answers and safeguards, while holding retaliation options open. Amid US-Israel pressures on Iran, this pioneers Caucasus targeting.
Baku’s neutrality masks shifts: stronger Israel-US bonds, Russian drift. No US footprint means Iran’s ambitions grow unchecked here.
Israel arms deals fuel Iran ire, yet trade endures alongside Shia solidarity. Iran’s vast Azeri diaspora – 15-20 million strong in northwest – complicates the feud.
This flare-up risks unraveling delicate balances, from energy security to ethnic ties. Azerbaijan’s firm diplomacy aims to deter repeats, but underlying rivalries loom large.