The Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan has issued a firm rebuttal to claims made by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran regarding recent drone provocations. Despite Tehran's assertions of respecting the sovereignty of neighboring Muslim nations, Baku has confirmed that Iranian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) targeted Azerbaijani territory today.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, the Ministry of Defense stated that technical surveillance systems identified four UAVs launched by the Iranian armed forces toward the Nakhchivan region of Azerbaijan. The ministry reported that one drone was neutralized by the Azerbaijan Army, while others targeted civilian infrastructure. Notably, one UAV was directed at a secondary school building during school hours; however, it failed to hit the intended target and exploded nearby.
"Considering these facts, we expect the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran to end their blatant denials, issue an apology for the incident, and ensure that the relevant Iranian authorities punish those responsible," the Ministry of Defense emphasized in its official statement.
Nakhchivan, an exclave of Azerbaijan, holds significant strategic importance and shares borders with Iran, Armenia, and Türkiye. In recent years, regional security has remained a priority for Baku, especially following the restoration of territorial integrity. This incident occurs amid a complex geopolitical landscape where Azerbaijan continues to advocate for regional stability and the inviolability of international borders, while maintaining a high state of combat readiness to protect its civilian population and sovereign territory.
