AZE.US
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev convened a meeting of the national Security Council on Wednesday after drones launched from Iran struck civilian sites in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, calling the attack a “terrorist act against the Azerbaijani state.”
According to the Azerbaijani presidency, the drones targeted civilian infrastructure, including the terminal building of Nakhchivan International Airport and an area near a secondary school in the village of Shekerabad in the Babek district.
Several civilians were injured in the airport strike. The school building sustained damage, including shattered windows and facade damage, though no students or staff were reported injured.
“This is a dirty terrorist act against the Azerbaijani state,” Aliyev said during the Security Council meeting. “Those responsible must be immediately held accountable.”
The president said Azerbaijan had demanded explanations and an official apology from Iranian authorities and warned that Baku reserved the right to take appropriate response measures.
Aliyev also recalled the earlier attack on the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Tehran, when an armed assailant stormed the diplomatic compound, killing one security officer and seriously injuring another. Azerbaijani officials have long argued that the attack could not have occurred without the involvement or negligence of Iranian security structures.
“We will not tolerate aggression against Azerbaijan,” Aliyev said, adding that the country’s armed forces had been instructed to prepare response options.
The president stressed that Azerbaijan has repeatedly assured Tehran that its territory would never be used for military operations against neighboring states.
“We have no interest in conducting operations against our neighbors,” he said.
Following the incident, Iran’s ambassador to Azerbaijan was summoned to the Foreign Ministry and a formal protest note is expected to be delivered.
Aliyev also said Azerbaijan’s armed forces, border troops, and special units have been placed on high alert.
International Reaction
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan called Aliyev to express solidarity with Azerbaijan and condemned the drone strike on Nakhchivan.
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said she had spoken with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and described the attack as an unacceptable escalation that risks spreading conflict beyond the Middle East.
The United Nations also voiced concern. Spokesman Stéphane Dujarric said the organization was “deeply concerned” and described the strike as a clear violation of Azerbaijan’s sovereignty.
Several countries publicly condemned the attack, including Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Ukraine and France.
Diplomatic missions of the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, Latvia, Georgia, Estonia and Moldova also issued statements condemning the strike.
Israel’s foreign minister also denounced the attack, while Pakistan expressed serious concern over the escalation.
Azerbaijan says it reserves the right to respond to the drone attack, which officials describe as a direct violation of the country’s sovereignty.