NAKHCHIVAN, AZERBAIJAN — In a dramatic and dangerous escalation of the week-long regional conflict, Iranian forces launched a wave of missile and drone attacks targeting the Azerbaijani exclave of Nakhchivan on Thursday, March 5, 2026. The strikes, which occurred around noon local time, hit both civilian infrastructure and transportation hubs, marking the first direct Iranian kinetic action against Azerbaijani territory since the assassination of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei last weekend.
The Targets: Airport and Education According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, at least two "Arash-2" kamikaze drones launched from Iranian territory penetrated Azerbaijani airspace. One drone made a direct hit on the terminal building of Nakhchivan International Airport, causing a large explosion and a subsequent fire that sent plumes of thick black smoke into the air.
A second drone fell in the village of Shakarabad, detonating near a secondary school. While students and faculty were reportedly evacuated shortly before the impact, the blast caused significant structural damage to the school's exterior. The Ministry of Health in Nakhchivan has confirmed that at least two civilians were injured in the airport blast and have been hospitalized for treatment. Emergency responders remained on the scene for several hours to contain the fires and search for any additional victims beneath the rubble of the terminal.
Diplomatic Fallout and "Appropriate Measures" The response from Baku has been swift and stern. The Iranian Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Mojtaba Demirchilou, was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs this afternoon to receive a "strong note of protest." Azerbaijani officials have characterized the attack as a "gross violation of the norms and principles of international law" and a direct threat to regional stability.
"Full responsibility for this incident lies entirely with the Islamic Republic of Iran," a spokesperson for the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense stated during a televised briefing. The ministry added that Baku "reserves the right to take appropriate response measures" to protect its territorial integrity and civilian population. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has reportedly held an emergency session with his top military commanders to discuss the nation's defense posture.
Strategic Implications Nakhchivan occupies a sensitive geographic position, bordered by Iran to the south and Turkey to the north. Azerbaijan maintains a close strategic and military partnership with Israel, a relationship that has long been a source of friction with Tehran. Iranian leaders have previously accused Azerbaijan of allowing Israeli intelligence assets to operate near its border—allegations Baku has repeatedly denied.
Today's strike raises fears that the conflict between Iran, Israel, and the United States is no longer contained to the Middle East but is spilling into the strategically vital South Caucasus. Azerbaijan has reportedly placed its northern border units on high combat readiness and has begun consultations with Turkey under the terms of the Shusha Declaration, a mutual defense pact between the two nations. As the war enters its second week, the involvement of Azerbaijan could potentially draw Turkey—a NATO member—closer to the front lines of the confrontation.
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