Following two injuries from drone strikes on an airport and close to a school, Azerbaijan called the Iranian envoy on Thursday.
According to a statement from the foreign ministry, at least two drones entered Azerbaijan’s exclave of Nakhichevan, which borders Iran and is divided from mainland Azerbaijan by Armenia, during the strikes at noon.
According to the ministry, “one drone fell on the terminal building of Nakhichevan Airport, while another drone fell near a school building in the village of Shekerabad,” causing damage to the airport and injuring two bystanders.
The incident “contradicts the norms and principles of international law and contributes to rising tensions in the region,” according to the ministry, which said it had called the Iranian envoy to Baku to register “strong protest.”
It further stated, “Azerbaijan reserves the right to take appropriate retaliatory measures.”
Iran has long voiced worry that Israel, an important military supplier and close ally of Azerbaijan, might launch assaults from Azerbaijani territory.
Following Israel’s massive attack on Iranian sites in June of last year, Azerbaijan informed Iran that it would not permit its territory to be utilized for operations against Tehran.
About 10 million of Iran’s 83 million residents are ethnic Azerbaijani, and Tehran has long been concerned about separatist support among them.
