The Milli Majlis (National Assembly) Commission on Foreign Interference and Hybrid Threats has issued a formal statement condemning what it describes as a targeted information provocation by the international media outlet CNN.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, the statement addresses a June 5, 2026, article published by CNN titled "During the Israel-Iran war, Azerbaijan sent troops as part of a secret network across the region." The parliamentary commission asserts that the report, which relies on unnamed sources, constitutes a deliberate disinformation campaign aimed at undermining Azerbaijan's national interests, international reputation, and its role in regional peace processes.
The commission noted that this is not an isolated incident, highlighting a recurring pattern where CNN and similar international outlets launch coordinated information campaigns against Azerbaijan ahead of significant diplomatic or political events. Monitoring by the commission revealed that following the publication of the article, an "opportunistic amplification" tactic was employed, causing the anti-Azerbaijani narrative to spread rapidly across major global media outlets and social media platforms, including X, Threads, Facebook, and Telegram.
Furthermore, the commission pointed to the authors' reliance on individuals previously associated with media projects funded by the Soros Foundation—entities historically known for positions critical of Azerbaijan—as evidence of the potential origins and motivations behind the report.
The Milli Majlis commission reiterated the official stance of the Republic of Azerbaijan, stating: "As repeatedly declared by our relevant state authorities, there are no foreign military forces or bases in our country, and it is impossible for the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan to be used for any hostile activities against third states."
In its conclusion, the commission called upon CNN to either provide a retraction regarding the baseless nature of the article or present verifiable evidence to support its claims. The statement warned that failing to do so would confirm that CNN is acting as a tool in information operations and the dissemination of false narratives, which are key components of modern hybrid threats.
