Israel secretly deployed special forces to Azerbaijan and other countries during Iran war, sources say

Jun 5, 2026

During its war with Iran, Israel secretly deployed elite military and intelligence units to Azerbaijan, Iraq, the UAE, and Somaliland, according to sources. These forward bases extended Israel's military reach, enabling intelligence gathering, drone operations, and strikes deep inside Iran. One operation launched from Azerbaijan reportedly killed a senior IRGC commander. Azerbaijan has officially denied that its territory was used for such operations.

Israeli forces deployed Azerbaijan

▪The Israeli forces, including commandos and Mossad agents, operated from multiple locations in southern Azerbaijan near the Iranian border.
▪Israel secretly deployed elite military and intelligence units to Azerbaijan during its war with Iran.
▪At its closest point, the Israeli deployment in Azerbaijan was approximately 60 miles (100km) from the Iranian city of Tabriz.

Secret bases across region

▪The deployment in Azerbaijan was part of a broader network of covert Israeli military sites in countries including Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, and Somaliland.
▪The covert sites extended Israel's military range by hundreds of miles, allowing for sustained strikes deep inside Iran.
▪A base in Somaliland provided a potential stopover point for Israeli aircraft on long-range flights to Iran.
▪Israel also deployed an Iron Dome aerial defense battery and operating troops to the UAE during the war.

Intelligence gathering drone operations

▪The mission's role expanded from an initial emergency rescue function to include military and intelligence-gathering.
▪An operation launched from Azerbaijan on March 4 resulted in the killing of Rahman Moghaddam, head of the IRGC's intelligence division.
▪The Israeli units in Azerbaijan conducted intelligence-gathering missions and drone operations.

U.S. knowledge Iraqi cooperation

▪Two secret Israeli military outposts in Iraq were established with U.S. knowledge.
▪During the war, the U.S. compelled Iraq to shut down its radar systems to protect American aircraft.

Official denials from governments

▪The Azerbaijani embassy in Washington rejected the reports as "unfounded claims" that its territory was used for operations against third countries.
▪Iran denied responsibility for a drone attack on Nakhchivan International Airport in Azerbaijan that occurred on March 5.