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A vast network of covert military and intelligence positions around Iran was maintained by Israel during its war with Tehran, according to CNN revelations. At the center of these claims is Azerbaijan, where Israeli special forces and Mossad operatives are said to have been stationed at locations near Iran's northern border.
According to four sources cited by the American network, Israel secretly deployed military and intelligence units in Azerbaijan during the war with Iran, as part of a wider network of covert installations in various countries in the Middle East.
The forces reportedly operated from several locations in southern Azerbaijan, a short distance from Iran's northern border and about 100 kilometers from the city of Tabriz, which was hit by Israeli attacks during the conflict.
According to the same sources, special operations units were deployed in the area, carrying out intelligence-gathering missions and unmanned aerial vehicle operations, providing Israel with important capabilities for monitoring northern Iranian territory.
The sources added that the installations in Azerbaijan were part of a larger network of secret bases, which also included positions in Iraq, the United Arab Emirates and Somaliland. Initially, these installations were designed as possible evacuation points for personnel in case of emergency, but later turned into military and intelligence operations centers.
According to one of the sources, the mission in Azerbaijan included several dozen members of Israeli special forces, the elite air combat and rescue unit, as well as Mossad personnel.
The Azerbaijani Embassy in the United States categorically denied this information. In a statement, it stressed that it “categorically rejects baseless allegations about the use of Azerbaijani territory for operations against third countries.”
The role of Somaliland and the United Arab Emirates
According to the CNN article, the breakaway region of Somaliland offered Israel an additional strategic base, which could be used as a staging point for aircraft carrying out long-range missions to Iran.
CNN also reports that Israel maintained two secret installations in Iraq during part of the war, providing logistical support and search and rescue capabilities.
At the same time, a battery of the Iron Dome air defense system was deployed in the United Arab Emirates along with the personnel operating it.
Azerbaijan as a strategic partner
Israel has considered Azerbaijan a strategic partner in its confrontation with Iran for years. According to CNN sources, plans to create covert installations along the border between the two countries began several weeks before the start of the war.
The same sources claim that in January 2026, when the Iranian regime was facing massive protests, Israel was planning a covert operation to deploy surveillance and information-gathering systems along the border with Azerbaijan.
The plan was expected to be implemented in parallel with the first military strikes against Iran, but US President Donald Trump suspended that operation, arguing that Tehran had pledged to stop the violent suppression of protests.
According to the report, Israel continued preparations alone, deploying stealth aircraft and special forces to install surveillance equipment.
Close relations between Baku and Tel Aviv
Relations between Israel and Azerbaijan are considered particularly close, both in military and economic terms.
Baku supplies Israel with significant amounts of oil, while Tel Aviv exports advanced weapons systems to Azerbaijan. In 2016, the country also became the first foreign government to purchase the Iron Dome air defense system.
According to analysts quoted by CNN, this cooperation brings Azerbaijan significant diplomatic benefits in Washington, while strengthening its role as a regional actor in the South Caucasus and the Middle East.
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