- Two Iranian drones crossed into Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan exclave and struck near Nakhchivan International Airport, injuring two people and damaging civilian infrastructure, according to Azerbaijan’s foreign ministry.
- Local reports indicate the attack involved Arash-2 loitering munitions, a larger Iranian kamikaze drone capable of carrying a warhead of up to 120 kilograms.
Two Iranian drones crossed into Azerbaijani airspace and struck Nakhchivan International Airport, injuring two people and causing damage to civilian infrastructure, according to Azerbaijan’s foreign ministry.
The incident occurred near the Iranian border in the Nakhchivan exclave, roughly 10 kilometers from Iranian territory.
According to Azerbaijan’s foreign ministry, two drones entered the country’s airspace and impacted near the airport. One drone struck the airport terminal, while the second landed near a school building in a nearby village.
A source close to the Azerbaijani government told Reuters that the incident also sparked a fire at the site. Emergency services responded to the area, and two people were reported injured as a result of the attack.
Local media channels reported that the event involved two separate drone impacts rather than a single stray drone. The pattern of strikes led observers to conclude that the incident was unlikely to be accidental.
According to regional reports, the drones used in the strike were Arash-2 loitering munitions. The Arash-2 is an Iranian-made kamikaze drone designed for long-range strike missions.
The Arash-2 platform is larger and faster than the Shahed-136 drone that has been widely used in several conflicts. The system carries a warhead estimated at up to 120 kilograms and is designed to strike stationary targets through a self-destructive attack profile.
Loitering munitions of this class operate by flying toward a designated target area and then diving into the objective upon detection or confirmation of coordinates. Because the drone itself becomes the weapon, the explosive payload detonates on impact.
Iran has previously deployed Arash-series drones in attacks targeting infrastructure and military facilities in the Middle East. According to regional reporting, similar systems have been used in strikes against targets in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar.
The Nakhchivan exclave occupies a geographically isolated position separated from mainland Azerbaijan by Armenian territory. Its proximity to Iran places civilian and military facilities within short distance of the border, increasing the risk that cross-border incidents could affect infrastructure in the region.
Nakhchivan International Airport serves as the primary aviation hub for the exclave and plays a key role in maintaining transportation links between Nakhchivan and other parts of Azerbaijan. Damage to such infrastructure has the potential to disrupt civilian travel and regional logistics.
Azerbaijan’s government condemned the drone incident in official statements. Authorities said the attack “contradicts the norms and principles of international law” and warned that such actions risk escalating tensions in the region.