Iranian drones strike Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan international airport Iranian drones targeted the passenger terminal of Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan International Airport and a school near the village of Shakarabad, close to the Iranian border, in a reported escalation of tensions. Azerbaijani authorities confirmed at least two people were injured in the attack, which occurred on Thursday. The incident has drawn strong condemnation from Azerbaijan, with officials accusing Tehran of orchestrating the strike. Azerbaijani authorities stated that one drone struck the airport's terminal building, while another landed near the school in Shakarabad. A government statement condemned the attacks, calling them a "terrorist act" and demanding an apology from Iran. President Ilham Aliyev accused Iran of launching the strikes, stating, "Today, Iran committed an act of terror against the territory of Azerbaijan." He called for Iran to provide an explanation, issue an apology, and hold those responsible accountable. The Azerbaijani military has been placed on full combat readiness, according to Aliyev. The foreign ministry summoned Iran's ambassador to the country earlier on Thursday. However, Tehran denied involvement, with the Iranian general staff stating, "The Islamic Republic of Iran ... denies its armed forces launched a drone toward the Republic of Azerbaijan." Azerbaijan's defense ministry rejected Iran's denial, asserting that technical monitoring systems confirmed four Iranian drones were directed toward the Nakhchivan region. The ministry demanded that Iran stop its "obvious denial," apologize, and ensure those responsible are punished. Turkey's foreign ministry also condemned the drone strikes, urging an immediate end to the attacks.#iran #turkey #shakarabad #azerbaijan #nakhchivan_international_airport
Drone attacks strike Nakhchivan and Shakarabad, officials condemn Iran’s involvement Officials confirmed that two drones crashed in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, with one hitting the airport terminal and another falling near a school in the village of Shakarabad. The incidents, described as attacks from the territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran, caused damage to the airport building and injured two civilians. A statement from authorities condemned the strikes, calling them a violation of international law and a move to escalate regional tensions. The attack on Nakhchivan’s airport, located approximately 10 kilometers from the Iranian border, sparked concerns about the security of critical infrastructure. A fire broke out as a result of the incident, though the exact number of drones or missiles involved remains unclear. Officials have pledged to release a formal statement detailing the situation. Meanwhile, tensions in the region intensified as reports surfaced about an Iranian warship approaching Sri Lanka’s territorial waters. This followed a U.S. submarine attack on an Iranian frigate earlier in the week, which resulted in the deaths of at least 87 sailors. Sri Lankan media minister Nalinda Jayatissa noted that the second Iranian vessel was positioned just outside the country’s waters, though details about its intentions or crew remained unspecified. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake convened with senior officials to discuss a potential response to Iran’s request for safe passage through Sri Lanka’s waters. The vessel, reportedly carrying over 100 crew members, faced fears of being targeted by U.S. forces, mirroring the fate of its predecessor. The incident unfolded amid a broader conflict involving the U.S. and Israel, which had launched a joint attack on Iran.#iran #sri_lanka #nakhchivan_autonomous_republic #president_anura_kumara_dissanayake #shakarabad
