Azerbaijan has reportedly withdrawn diplomatic staff from Iran after accusing it of launching drones into its territory.
On Wednesday, drones struck the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, an Azerbaijani exclave bordering Iran, Armenia and Turkey. One drone hit the terminal of Nakhchivan International Airport, while another landed near a school in the village of Shakarabad, injuring several civilians.
Azerbaijan condemned the attack as a “terrorist act" and summoned Iran’s ambassador for an explanation. Tehran, however, has denied responsibility for the strike.
The incident occurred amid widespread Iranian retaliatory strikes across the Middle East following the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader in joint US–Israeli attacks earlier this month.
Relations between Azerbaijan and Iran have been strained for years despite shared cultural and religious ties. Both countries are majority Shia Muslim, but their geopolitical alignments differ sharply.
Azerbaijan has strengthened its ties with Israel, Turkey and Western countries, which Iran views as hostile alliances. Tehran has repeatedly criticised Azerbaijan’s defence cooperation with Israel and its growing strategic partnership with Western nations.
Diplomatic tensions have also flared in the past, including a 2023 attack on Azerbaijan’s embassy in Tehran that killed a security officer.
Source: World News in news18.com, World Latest News, World News
