The Azerbaijani army has been put on alert after the attack on Nakhchivan.
The Azerbaijani Armed Forces have been placed on state of readiness No. 1, stated Ilham Aliyev
March 5, 2026
The drone attack on the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic was a deliberate terrorist act by Iran, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev stated today, demanding an apology and punishment for those responsible. He ordered the armed forces to be placed on state of readiness. The Prosecutor General's Office of Azerbaijan has opened a criminal case in connection with the strikes on civilian infrastructure.
As reported by the "Caucasian Knot", one drone crashed in the airport terminal of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, another - near a school in the village of Shekerabad. The airport building was damaged. During the drone attack on the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, four people were injured, their condition is stable. The head of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry demanded an explanation from Iran, and a parliamentarian called on the neighboring country to apologize for the drone attack.
Amid the escalation of relations between Iran and the United States, Baku announced its refusal to allow strikes on the neighboring country, and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev expressed his readiness to help reduce tensions. Analysts have deemed Azerbaijan's position on the conflict in Iran pragmatic.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev held a meeting of the country's Security Council on March 5, where he described the Iranian drone attack on the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic as "an act of terrorism by Iran."
"Azerbaijan strongly condemns this heinous terrorist attack, and those responsible must be immediately brought to justice," he said.
Iranian officials must provide an explanation, apologize, and those responsible must be held criminally accountable.
Noting that this is not the first time Iran has committed a terrorist attack against Azerbaijan, Aliyev recalled the armed attack on the Azerbaijani embassy in Tehran in January 2023, when one employee was killed and two were wounded.
On January 27, 2023, the Azerbaijani embassy in Tehran was attacked, killing the head of security, Orkhan Asgarov. Two other guards were wounded, and the attacker was detained. Following this, Azerbaijan completely suspended the embassy's diplomatic activities and evacuated its employees. However, the Azerbaijani consulate general in Tabriz continued to operate. The embassy's work was resumed on July 15, 2024.
According to him, Baku has repeatedly told Tehran, and especially after the 12-day war of 2025, that Azerbaijan's territory will not be used against neighboring states."
However, Iran made unfounded accusations.
"Iranian state media waged a campaign to discredit Azerbaijan and influence Azerbaijanis living in Iran. They knew that a modern, independent Azerbaijan is a source of hope for many Azerbaijanis in Iran. Attempts to denigrate and discredit us were pointless. Azerbaijan neither then nor "We are not currently participating in operations against Iran and will not participate in them. Our position is clear: we defend the country's territorial integrity, as we did against the occupation of Armenia, and we are ready to demonstrate force against any evil force, including Iran. This terrorist act is an expression of insolence and ingratitude," Aliyev continued.
He pointed out that in connection with the death of Iran's religious leader Seyyed Ali Khamenei, he expressed condolences and even visited the Iranian embassy in Baku, at a time when no head of state has visited an Iranian diplomatic mission.
"Disrespect and ingratitude on the part of Iran are a disgrace to them. Those who committed this terrorist act will regret it. Do not test our strength. The heads of those who try to test our strength have been crushed by the Iron Fist." Today's event will lead to the same result. An action plan has been prepared for this, and all instructions have been issued. The Iranian ambassador to Azerbaijan has been summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a protest note will be delivered, and other diplomatic steps will be taken. “Relevant instructions have been given regarding the border,” Aliyev said.
He also pointed out that on the morning of March 4, the Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister called Baku asking for assistance in evacuating employees of the Iranian Embassy in Lebanon. “I immediately gave the order to provide assistance and send a plane. They even offered to pay for it, but I said it was unnecessary: if we don’t help in difficult times, then when? And after all this – a vile blow to Nakhchivan?! This stain on their ugly face will never be erased. All necessary measures will be taken through diplomatic means. Our Armed Forces – the Ministry of Defense, the State Border Service, and all other units of the Special Forces – have been put on high alert and must be ready to carry out any operation,” Aliyev said.
The Prosecutor General’s Office of Azerbaijan has opened a criminal investigation. A criminal case has been opened regarding the aerial attack on the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.
"On March 5, an attempt was made from the territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran using two unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) equipped with remotely controlled warheads to attack civilian infrastructure facilities in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic of the Republic of Azerbaijan. In this regard, a criminal case has been opened under Articles 214.2.1, 214.2.3, 214.2.4 (terrorism), and 270-1.3 (actions threatening aviation security) of the Criminal Code, and a preliminary investigation is underway," the prosecutor's office said in a statement.
According to the department, four people were injured in the attack on the airport, including two airport employees and two passengers.
"The incident caused significant damage to civilian infrastructure, namely the administrative building of Nakhchivan Airport, and deliberately and illegally disrupted the airport's operations. As a result, the civilian aircraft, operating flight No. 264 on the Nakhchivan-Baku route, was forced to return in the direction of Baku to ensure the safety of passengers,” the statement continued.