By Vered Weiss, World Israel News
Israeli forces operated from a network of covert positions across several Middle Eastern countries during the war with Iran, including sites in Azerbaijan located near Iran’s northern border, CNN reported, citing four sources familiar with the operations.
According to the report, Israeli personnel were stationed at undisclosed locations in Azerbaijan, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates and Somaliland.
The positions were initially established as potential emergency rescue hubs but later took on broader military and intelligence functions, the sources said.
Among the most strategically significant locations were several sites in southern Azerbaijan.
Sources told CNN that some of the positions were situated approximately 60 miles from the Iranian city of Tabriz, one of the cities targeted by Israel during the conflict.
The deployment included elite military units, intelligence operatives, search-and-rescue personnel and special commandos, according to the sources.
From the Azerbaijani locations, Israeli teams reportedly conducted intelligence collection activities, operated drone systems and supported aerial rescue missions.
CNN reported that the forward positions gave Israel operational access around multiple sides of Iran.
The network placed Israeli personnel along Iran’s northern, western and southern approaches, extending the military’s reach hundreds of miles beyond Israel’s borders.
The positions assisted Israel in sustaining repeated strike operations during the war and provided locations from which military and intelligence personnel could monitor activity inside Iran.
Sources described the Azerbaijani sites as particularly valuable because of their proximity to northern Iranian territory.
According to CNN, Israel has developed covert outposts and military positions in neighboring and nearby regions to improve monitoring of Iran and reduce the distance required for military operations.
The Azerbaijani government has denied that its territory was used to support operations directed at other countries.
