Baku, Azerbaijan – In a serious diplomatic and military escalation in the Caucasus region, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Thursday that it had summoned the Iranian ambassador to Baku and handed him a strongly worded protest note regarding the attacks targeting the Nakhchivan Autonomous Region.
The ministry affirmed in an official statement that it “reserves its full right to respond”
to what it described as a blatant attack on its sovereignty and the security of its citizens.
Details of the field aggression
This diplomatic move followed a large-scale attack by drones and missiles launched from Iranian territory.
According to official Azerbaijani data, authorities reported that a “suicide” drone directly hit the terminal building of Nakhchivan International Airport. Another drone crashed near a school in the village of Shakarabad, causing panic among civilians and schoolchildren.
International news agencies, including Reuters, quoted eyewitnesses in the border region as saying they saw waves of flying objects streaking across the sky before powerful explosions rocked the airport and its main runway.
This resulted in thick plumes of smoke rising into the sky above the area.
Nakhichevan: The Geography of Crisis
The Nakhchivan region is a highly sensitive strategic point, being a geographical enclave situated between Armenia, Iran, and Turkey.
Its international airport is the region’s only lifeline to the outside world and to mainland Azerbaijan.
Observers believe that targeting this vital location represents a radical shift in the regional rules of engagement.
This is intended to exert geopolitical pressure on Baku amidst existing tensions surrounding border crossings and influence in the Caucasus region.
Expected reactions and actions
The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry asserted that remaining silent in the face of these attacks is impossible,
noting that emergency teams and security services are currently assessing the full extent of the material damage.
Meanwhile, international observers are awaiting developments in the coming hours,
amid expectations of intervention from Baku’s regional allies, most notably Türkiye, to ensure the security of the border region.
The position of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Targeting civilian facilities and vital infrastructure in Nakhchivan is a provocative act that will not go unpunished,and we hold the Iranian side fully responsible for the consequences of this escalation.
As of yet, Tehran has not issued a detailed official statement regarding the motives
for the attack or its technical details, while military alert remains high on both sides of the border.
