A shocking report has revealed that Israel deployed Mossad spies and elite commandos in Azerbaijan during the Iran war.
One of the closest posts stationing the Israeli forces was just 96 kilometres from the city of Tabriz in northwestern Iran, reports CNN, citing sources familiar with the matter.
Israel had originally deployed the elite forces to carry out a rescue mission in the event of an Israeli fighter jet being shot down by Tehran. However, soon the mission was upgraded to include intelligence operations, which resulted in the stationing of Mossad agents. Later, drone operations were also conducted from Azerbaijan soil.
One of the key operations Israeli launched from Azerbaijan was the killing of Rahman Moqadam, who headed the Special Operations Division of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). According to the report, the killing of Moqadam was crucial as he was tasked with recruiting and training operatives across the world. He reportedly used these operatives to gather intel on Israeli politicians, defence brass, military installations, ports and other assets around the world.
However, the Azerbaijani embassy in Israel dismissed the allegations as “entirely baseless”, adding that CNN betrayed “the principles of objectivity, impartiality, and professional ethics in journalism.”
“As has been stated on numerous occasions, allegations that Azerbaijan’s territory has been used by any third country for military operations, intelligence activities, or other hostile purposes against another state are completely unfounded. Azerbaijan has never allowed, and will never allow, its territory to be used for such purposes,” said the embassy.
During the 12-day war in June 2025, Azerbaijan had assured Iran that Israel would not be allowed to use its territory to target Iran. It should be noted that Israel exports arms to Azerbaijan and imports energy from the country.
CNN also reported that Israel used the Somaliland territory to refuel a fighter jet. Israel is the sole nation to recognise Somaliland, breakaway region in East Africa. Earlier, reports also claimed that Israel operated two covert bases in Iraq during the war.
