Azerbaijan closed part of its southern airspace for 12 hours on March 5, 2026, following Iranian drone attacks on its Nakhchivan autonomous region that injured two civilians and damaged civilian infrastructure. The incident marks the first time Iran has directly struck a Caucasus state since the broader US-Israel military confrontation with Tehran escalated in recent weeks.
President Ilham Aliyev summoned Iran's ambassador and announced Azerbaijan would respond with an "Iron Fist," while Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister denied the strikes were deliberate. The airspace closure and threatened military retaliation signal a potential geographic expansion of the regional conflict beyond the Middle East theater.
Attack details and immediate damage
Two Iranian drones launched from Iranian territory struck Nakhchivan on March 5, according to Azerbaijani authorities. One drone hit Nakhchivan International Airport's terminal building, causing structural damage and a fire documented in multiple social media videos. Emergency teams evacuated the facility as smoke billowed from the impact site. The second drone struck near a school in Shakarabad village. Reuters reported four injured; Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry confirmed two civilians wounded. Material damage to the airport terminal is confirmed through visual sources.
Azerbaijan's Defence Ministry stated it is "preparing the necessary retaliatory measures to protect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of our country," adding that "these acts of attack will not go unanswered." The Ministry summoned Iranian Ambassador Mojtaba Demirchilu within hours, issuing a formal protest and demanding an explanation.
Members are reading: How Azerbaijan's geographic isolation limits its retaliation options and what Turkish involvement could mean for NATO.
Regional conflict reaches new geography
Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi denied the strikes were deliberate. "The Islamic Republic of Iran has not targeted the Republic of Azerbaijan," he stated. "We do not target our neighbouring countries." The denial comes as Tehran faces retaliatory strikes across multiple fronts following recent US-Israeli operations, raising questions about whether the Nakhchivan incident reflects operational miscalculation, technical malfunction, or a calculated warning. Azerbaijan had previously assured Iran in June that its territory would not be used for attacks against Iran, a commitment aimed at preserving economic ties and preventing the opening of another conflict front.
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