Pakistan's Ally Azerbaijan Betrayed Iran; Israeli Soldiers Were Present In Baku During Middle East War

Baku: Azerbaijan is reportedly among the countries that covertly supported Israel and the US in the conflict against Iran. Israeli military and intelligence units were operating against Iran from Azerbaijani soil. The presence of the Israeli military in Azerbaijan is notable given that it is a Muslim-majority nation and an ally of Pakistan; however, Azerbaijan has long maintained trade and defense ties with Israel.

Citing four sources familiar with the matter, a CNN report claims that Israel secretly deployed military and intelligence units to Azerbaijan as part of a network of covert bases for operations against Iran during the conflict. This provided Israel with a vantage point to monitor northern Iran. A spokesperson for the Azerbaijani embassy in the US has denied these claims.

Are There Israeli Forces in Azerbaijan?

Sources indicated that Israeli forces were operating from multiple locations in southern Azerbaijan. These sites were situated along Iran's northern border—at the closest point, just 60 miles from the Iranian city of Tabriz, which Israel targeted during the conflict. Special commando units were also deployed there to gather intelligence and conduct drone operations.

The existence of Israeli military bases in Azerbaijan suggests that some of Iran's neighbors have acted against it. Sources told CNN that, in addition to Azerbaijan, Israel maintained bases in Iraq, the UAE, and Somaliland. Initially conceived as rescue teams, these units were later utilized for military and intelligence purposes.

Were Mossad Personnel Also Involved?

One source revealed that dozens of personnel were involved in the Azerbaijan operation. These included members of Israel's special operations forces, specialized heliborne combat and rescue units, and Mossad operatives. Somaliland also provided Israel with a military base for operations against Iran. The Israeli military had established bases in Iraq as well.

Israel secured a base in Azerbaijan that enabled it to conduct aerial rescue operations for pilots in the event of a crash and to monitor Iran. Israel has long regarded Azerbaijan as a strategic partner in its conflict with Iran.

How are Israel-Azerbaijan Relations?

Israel and Azerbaijan share close ties rooted in trade and military interests. Azerbaijan supplies a significant portion of its oil to Israel. In return, Israel sells modern weaponry to Azerbaijan; some of these arms were utilized in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflicts against Armenia in 2016 and 2020.