Azerbaijan Dismisses Claims of Israeli Military Presence Amid Iran Conflict

Azerbaijan has categorically denied allegations that Israeli military and intelligence personnel operated from its territory during the recent conflict with Iran. The government labeled these claims as baseless and demanded a retraction from the media outlet that reported them. The Foreign Ministry criticized the reliance on anonymous sources and emphasized Azerbaijan's commitment to peace and stability in the region. The allegations included claims of Israeli forces conducting operations from Azerbaijan, which the government strongly refuted, asserting that it has never permitted such activities. This situation highlights the complexities of regional relations amid ongoing tensions.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 6, 2026, 04:31 IST

Azerbaijan's Firm Denial

Azerbaijan has firmly rejected allegations suggesting that Israeli military and intelligence personnel operated from its territory during the recent tensions with Iran. The government labeled these claims as "entirely baseless" and has demanded a retraction from the media outlet that reported them. This denial follows a CNN article that asserted Israel had secretly deployed elite troops and Mossad agents to southern Azerbaijan, close to the Iranian border, for intelligence-gathering and drone operations as part of a covert network established during the conflict.

The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry stated that it had consistently denied such assertions and had communicated its stance to CNN prior to the publication of the article. The ministry criticized the news organization for relying on anonymous sources and neglecting Baku's response, which it claimed violated the principles of journalistic objectivity and ethics. "We have never allowed and will never allow such activities," the statement emphasized, reaffirming Azerbaijan's commitment to fostering peace and good relations in the region. The government has also urged CNN to retract the report.

Details from the Allegations

What The Report Claimed

According to the CNN report, Israeli forces were allegedly stationed at various sites in southern Azerbaijan, with some locations situated approximately 97 kilometers from Tabriz, Iran. The report indicated that this deployment included special operations forces, intelligence personnel, rescue teams, and Mossad operatives. It further claimed that Israel utilized Azerbaijan as one of several strategic positions to gain access to Iran during the conflict, alongside other locations such as Iraq, the UAE, and Somaliland.

Among the operations purportedly linked to Azerbaijani territory was the assassination of Rahman Moghaddam, who led the intelligence division of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on March 4. The report suggested that this operation was launched from Azerbaijan as part of a broader Israeli intelligence initiative targeting Iran. CNN also mentioned that preparations for this deployment began weeks prior to the conflict, including the setup of surveillance and listening devices along the Azerbaijan-Iran border. However, Azerbaijani officials have strongly denied any involvement in operations against Iran or any other nation, reiterating their rejection of the unfounded accusations.