Azerbaijan on Thursday accused Iran of launching drone attacks on its exclave of Nakhchivan, an incident that injured civilians and damaged infrastructure near the regional airport.
According to Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, two drones originating from Iranian territory entered the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic around midday on 5 March. One of the drones struck airport infrastructure while another landed close to a civilian facility in a nearby village.
In an official statement, the ministry said, "At around midday on 5 March, drone attacks were carried out against the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic of the Republic of Azerbaijan from the territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran."
Azerbaijan warned also that it was preparing unspecified response measures after a pair of Iranian drones flew across its border and injured four people in the Nakhchivan exclave, raising concern about further spillover of the conflict in the Middle East.
"These attacks will not remain unanswered," the Azerbaijani Defence Ministry said in a statement.
However, Iran's armed forces denied targeting Azerbaijan with drones.
Providing further details, authorities said one drone hit the terminal area of the airport, while the other came down near a school building.
"One drone struck the terminal building of the airport in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, while another drone fell near a school building in the village of Shakarabad," the statement read.
The attack resulted in damage to infrastructure and injuries to two civilians, according to the Azerbaijani government.
Condemning the incident, the foreign ministry said, "We strongly condemn these drone attacks launched from the territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which resulted in damage to the airport building and injuries of two civilians."
Officials in Baku described the strike as a violation of international law and warned that it could further destabilise the region.
"This attack against the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan constitutes a violation of the norms and principles of international law and serves to increase tensions in the region," the statement added.
The Azerbaijani government has called on Tehran to provide an explanation and conduct an investigation into the incident.
"We demand from the Islamic Republic of Iran to provide, within the shortest possible timeframe, a clear explanation regarding the case, conduct an appropriate investigation, and take the necessary urgent measures to ensure that such attacks are not repeated in the future," the statement said.
Baku also indicated that it could respond if necessary.
"The Azerbaijani side reserves the right to take appropriate response measures," it said.
Following the incident, Iran’s ambassador to Azerbaijan, Mojtaba Demirchilou, was summoned to the Azerbaijani foreign ministry where officials said a formal protest would be lodged.
"The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mojtaba Demirchilou, has been summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where a strong protest will be conveyed to the Iranian side, and a corresponding note of protest will be presented," the statement added.
Iran has not publicly acknowledged carrying out the strike. However, regional tensions have escalated in recent weeks as the broader conflict involving Iran has spread beyond its immediate theatres, raising fears that neighbouring countries could be drawn into the crisis.
