A reported drone attack on Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic on March 5, 2026, have triggered diplomatic tensions between Baku and Tehran. Azerbaijani officials say the drones were launched from Iranian territory, while Iran has firmly rejected the accusations and suggested the incident could be a provocation.
Reported drone strikes
According to Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, drones launched from Iranian territory struck Nakhchivan around midday on March 5. One drone reportedly hit the terminal building of Nakhchivan International Airport, while another crashed near a school building in the village of Shakarabad in the Sharur district.
Authorities say the airport’s administrative building was damaged and several civilians were injured. Official reports state that four people were wounded in the incident. They were taken to the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic Hospital.
Doctors reported that two of the injured suffered barotrauma and two others sustained blunt injuries to the back area. Their conditions are said to be stable.
Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Defense later stated that a total of four drones were used in the attack. According to the ministry, one of them was shot down by the Azerbaijani army. The others targeted civilian facilities. The drone that fell near the school reportedly crashed before exploding and caused no major damage.
Impact on airport operations
Following the attack, all flights at Nakhchivan International Airport were temporarily suspended. Airport operations were disrupted, and a plane preparing to depart for Baku was forced to return for safety reasons.
AZAL, Azerbaijan’s national airline, announced that all flights scheduled on the Baku–Nakhchivan–Baku route for the day had been canceled.
As an alternative, special flights were organized on the Baku–Igdir–Baku route in Türkiye, and buses were arranged to transport passengers between Igdir Airport and Nakhchivan.
Strong reaction from Baku
Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the attack, calling it a violation of international law and warning that it could increase tensions in the region. The ministry demanded that Iran promptly clarify the incident and take measures to prevent similar events in the future.
Iran’s ambassador to Azerbaijan, Mojtaba Demirchilu, was summoned to the Foreign Ministry and is expected to receive a formal protest note.
The Ministry of Defense also condemned the targeting of civilian infrastructure and stated that Azerbaijan is preparing response measures to protect its territorial integrity and sovereignty. Officials emphasized that the attack would not go unanswered.
During a meeting of the National Security Council the same day, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev described the incident as a “terrorist act” and said that instructions had been given to the armed forces to prepare retaliatory measures.
Criminal case launched
Azerbaijan’s Prosecutor General’s Office has opened a criminal investigation into the incident.
According to the statement, the attack was carried out using drones equipped with explosive warheads targeting civilian infrastructure in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.
Investigators have examined the scene, collected evidence, and questioned witnesses and victims. Several forensic examinations have also been ordered. Authorities say technical investigations are underway to determine the origin of the drones and their control route.
The Prosecutor General’s Office stressed that targeting civilians and strategic infrastructure constitutes a violation of international humanitarian law and said those responsible would be held accountable.
Iran rejects accusations
Tehran has rejected the accusations from Azerbaijan.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said Iran does not attack neighboring countries and that he first heard about the alleged incident through media reports.
He stated that Iran’s military policy is focused only on targeting foreign military bases in the region that could be used for attacks against Iran.
Iran’s Armed Forces General Staff also denied sending drones toward Azerbaijan. In a statement cited by Iranian media, officials said the reports were false and emphasized that Iran respects the sovereignty of all countries, especially neighboring and Muslim states.
Iranian officials also suggested that the incident could have been a provocation designed to create tensions between Iran and neighboring Muslim countries, claiming that Israel might be behind such actions.
Risk of rising regional tensions
The incident could further strain relations between Azerbaijan and Iran. While Baku has warned that the attack will not go unanswered, Tehran continues to deny any involvement.
Azerbaijan says investigations into the technical details of the attack and the origin of the drones are ongoing. The outcome of the investigation and possible diplomatic developments between the two countries may determine how the situation affects regional security.
