CNN Report Details Alleged Cross-Border Operations
Israeli commandos and intelligence personnel operated from Azerbaijan during Operation Roaring Lion against Iran, according to a CNN report published on Friday citing multiple sources familiar with the matter.
The report claimed that Israeli forces were stationed in southern Azerbaijan near the Iranian border, providing strategic proximity to northwestern Iran. According to the sources, some personnel were positioned approximately 60 kilometers from the Iranian city of Tabriz, which was among the locations targeted during the military campaign.
CNN reported that the deployment included several dozen personnel, including members of Israeli special operations units, military rescue teams and intelligence operatives. Sources cited by the network said the teams initially deployed to support potential emergency rescue missions inside Iran but later expanded their activities to include intelligence collection and drone-related operations.
The reported presence of Israeli personnel near Iran’s border would have provided operational advantages by reducing response times and extending surveillance capabilities during the campaign.
Azerbaijan Rejects Allegations as Regional Attention Grows
Meanwhile, Azerbaijan strongly denied the claims contained in the report. A spokesperson for the Azerbaijani Embassy in Washington rejected the allegations and said the country’s territory was not used for operations against third countries.
The report also alleged that Israel maintained covert operational sites in several locations surrounding Iran, including Azerbaijan, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates and Somaliland. According to the sources, these positions enabled Israeli forces to monitor and potentially support activities along Iran’s northern, western and southern approaches.
The claims have renewed attention on long-standing reports of security cooperation between Israel and Azerbaijan. Analysts have frequently highlighted Azerbaijan’s strategic location along Iran’s northern border and its importance in regional security calculations.
Separately, Israeli security agencies announced earlier this year that they had disrupted an alleged Iranian network operating in Azerbaijan. Officials said the group was involved in intelligence gathering and plans targeting Israeli interests abroad.
Neither the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office nor the Israeli military publicly commented on the CNN report. As a result, several aspects of the alleged deployment remain unconfirmed.
The report nevertheless underscores the broader regional dimensions of the conflict and highlights the strategic importance of neighboring countries in military and intelligence operations involving Iran.
