Erdoğan, Aliyev discuss drone attack on Nakhchivan, reaffirm solidarity

2026-03-05 - 19:52

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan spoke by phone Thursday with his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev to address a drone attack targeting Azerbaijan's autonomous Nakhchivan exclave, which left four people injured, Türkiye's Communications Directorate announced. Erdoğan strongly condemned the attack and extended his well wishes to Aliyev and the people of Azerbaijan. Attack Details Earlier Thursday, Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry confirmed that its exclave was struck by drones launched from Iranian territory. One drone hit the terminal building at Nakhchivan International Airport, while another fell near a school in the village of Shakarabad. The ministry issued a strong condemnation, stating: "We strongly condemn these drone attacks launched from the territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which resulted in damage to the airport and injuries to two civilians." The Azerbaijani Health Ministry later reported that four people were injured with stable conditions. Broader Regional Context The attack on Azerbaijan's exclave represents another front in the expanding regional conflict following Saturday's US-Israeli strikes on Iran. Tehran has launched retaliatory drone and missile attacks against Israel and Gulf states hosting US assets, with the conflict now drawing in neighboring countries. The incident underscores the widening geographic scope of hostilities and the potential for further spillover into the South Caucasus region.