March 05, New Delhi — Azerbaijan warned on Thursday that it is preparing a response after two Iranian drones crossed its border and injured four people in the Nakhchivan region. The incident has raised concerns about the Middle East conflict spreading further.
The Azerbaijani Defence Ministry said the attack will not go unanswered and that it is investigating the type of drones used. It added that measures are being prepared to protect the country’s territory and civilians.
Relations between Azerbaijan and Iran are already tense, partly due to Azerbaijan’s close ties with Turkey and Israel.
Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry also called on Iran to quickly explain the incident and take steps to prevent it from happening again.
Officials said one drone hit the terminal building of Nakhchivan International Airport, about 10 kilometres from the Iranian border. Another drone landed near a school in a nearby village.
Video verified by news agency Reuters showed smoke rising near the airport and damage inside the terminal building.
The four injured people were taken to hospital and are in stable condition.
Nakhchivan is an Azerbaijani region that borders Armenia, Iran, and Turkey. Turkey, a NATO member, signed a defence alliance with Azerbaijan in 2021.
