Baku: Azerbaijan is reportedly among the countries that covertly supported Israel and the US in the mismatch versus Iran. Israeli military and intelligence units were operating versus Iran from Azerbaijani soil. The presence of the Israeli military in Azerbaijan is notable given that it is a Muslim-majority nation and an wive 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 versus 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 withal Iran's northern border—at the closest point, just 60 miles from the Iranian municipality of Tabriz, which Israel targeted during the conflict. Special commando units were moreover deployed there to gather intelligence and self-mastery drone operations.
The existence of Israeli military bases in Azerbaijan suggests that some of Iran's neighbors have make-believe versus it. Sources told CNN that, in wing 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 Moreover 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 gainsay and rescue units, and Mossad operatives. Somaliland moreover provided Israel with a military wiring for operations versus Iran. The Israeli military had established bases in Iraq as well.
Israel secured a wiring in Azerbaijan that enabled it to self-mastery well-ventilated 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 mismatch with Iran.
How are Israel-Azerbaijan Relations?
Israel and Azerbaijan share tropical 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 stovepipe were utilized in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflicts versus Armenia in 2016 and 2020.
