A U.S. media report claims Israel secretly deployed elite military and intelligence units in Azerbaijan during its war with Iran. The reported operations allegedly helped Israel conduct surveillance and military activities near Iranian territory. The revelations could raise fresh questions about regional security and the role of neighboring countries.
According to CNN, the deployments formed part of a broader network of covert bases established across the Middle East. The report cited four informed sources who said Israeli personnel operated from several locations in southern Azerbaijan. Some of those sites were reportedly located about 60 miles from the Iranian city of Tabriz, which Israel targeted during the conflict.
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The report said Israeli special operations forces, intelligence personnel, and airborne rescue units were stationed at the locations. These teams allegedly gathered intelligence and conducted drone-related operations. As a result, Israel gained enhanced monitoring capabilities over northern Iran and expanded its operational reach during the conflict.
CNN further reported that similar facilities existed in Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, and Somaliland. Initially intended for emergency rescue operations, the sites were later expanded into military and intelligence centers. The report also claimed Israel quietly deployed Iron Dome air defense systems and personnel in the UAE during the war.
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However, Azerbaijan strongly rejected the allegations. A spokesperson for Azerbaijan’s embassy in the United States dismissed the claims as baseless and denied that Azerbaijani territory was used against any third country. The report follows earlier media accounts by the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times regarding alleged Israeli facilities in Iraq used for logistics and rescue operations.