Israel deployed elite units in Azerbaijan during Iran conflict: report
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Israel secretly deployed elite military and intelligence personnel in Azerbaijan during its conflict with Iran as part of a broader regional network used for operations against Tehran, according to a CNN report.
The report said the units operated from multiple locations in southern Azerbaijan near Iran's northern border. Some positions were reportedly about 97 kilometres from the Iranian city of Tabriz, which was targeted during the conflict.
The deployment included Israeli special operations forces, elite heliborne combat and rescue personnel, intelligence-gathering teams, drone operators, and Mossad officers. Initially intended as rescue units, their role reportedly expanded to include military and intelligence operations.
CNN reported that Israel also maintained positions in Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, and Somaliland, giving it access to Iran's northern, western, and southern approaches during the war.
Azerbaijan has denied the claims. Its embassy said it firmly rejected allegations that Azerbaijani territory was used for operations against third countries.
The report also said Israel used covert facilities in Iraq for logistics and possible search-and-rescue missions. Iraqi authorities have denied the presence of unauthorised foreign forces or bases in the country.
According to the report, Israel deployed an Iron Dome battery and personnel to the UAE during the conflict. Claims that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the Mossad chief, and Israel's military chief visited the UAE during the war were also denied by Emirati authorities.
CNN reported that preparations for operations involving Azerbaijan began weeks before the conflict. In January, Israeli forces carried out a covert mission along the Azerbaijan-Iran border, installing surveillance and listening equipment to monitor Iranian military activity.
Among the operations reportedly linked to the Azerbaijan deployment was the March 4 killing of Rahman Moghaddam, described in the report as the head of an intelligence division of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
The report also pointed to longstanding ties between Israel and Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan supplies a significant share of Israel's oil imports, while Israel has been a major supplier of advanced military equipment to the country, including the Iron Dome system.