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Azerbaijan Deploys Troops and Air Defenses to Iranian Border Amid Regional Escalation
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Azerbaijan has reportedly placed its military and security services on combat alert, deploying additional troops and defense assets to its southern border with Iran.
According to the independent outlet Qazetchi on March 3, that several government agencies—including the Ministry of Defense, the State Border Service, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the Ministry of Emergency Situations—have been placed on high alert.
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The intensification follows the outbreak of hostilities between the United States, Israel, and Iran, as military operations continue to pull neighboring nations into the conflict.
Qazetchi’s sources state that “the vacations of soldiers, warrant officers, and officers” have been cancelled, with those already on leave being ordered to return to their units immediately.
Azerbaijan has also positioned anti-drone units and defense systems capable of intercepting low-flying aircraft along the border with Iran.
Opposition politician Yadigar Sadigli described the buildup as a necessary response to the unpredictable nature of the ongoing hostilities.
“The head of state, of course, must take certain precautions, undertake certain steps, and if they have taken them, I think that’s normal. A lot can happen. Tomorrow, chaos could arise, some kind of a military unit commander could take action independently,” Sadigli told OC Media.
Sadigli emphasized that the readiness of air defense and ground forces is “perfectly natural” for any country bordering a conflict zone.
“Let’s say a missile could evade its target and hit Azerbaijan, but it could be something else,” he noted, adding that “it’s especially important to bring air defense forces to basic combat readiness. Aviation [support] must also be in place, and, of course, ground forces must also be ready.”
Just two days later, on March 5, an Iranian-launched barrage of missiles and drones struck the grounds of the international airport in Nakhchivan, an Azerbaijani exclave,
The strike targeted a facility situated approximately 10 kilometers (6 miles) from the Iranian border, Reuters reported, citing a source close to the government in Baku.
Earlier, officials from the Trump administration informed lawmakers that US air defense systems are unable to guarantee the interception of every Iranian Shahed drone.
During the briefing, officials explained that the drones’ low altitude and slow flight speeds often allow them to bypass defensive networks.
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