Israel deployed special forces to Azerbaijan, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq and Somaliland during its war with Iran, according to a CNN report published Friday and cited by Middle East Eye [1]. The report, based on four sources familiar with the matter, said Mossad agents and elite Israeli military units, including an airborne rescue unit of the Israel Air Force, were stationed in southern Azerbaijan, near the Iranian border.
Personnel conducted drone operations and intelligence-gathering missions, the report stated. Some facilities were established with the knowledge of host authorities, while others may not have been, according to the report. The Azerbaijani embassy in Washington rejected the allegations, telling CNN it dismissed "unfounded claims" that its territory had been used for operations against third countries.
Operations Based in Azerbaijan
According to CNN's sources, Mossad agents and elite Israeli military units were positioned in southern Azerbaijan, approximately 100km from the Iranian city of Tabriz at its closest point. One operation launched from Azerbaijani territory was the killing of Rahman Moghaddam, head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' special intelligence operations division, on March 4, one source told CNN [1]. The following day, drones struck Nakhchivan International Airport and a nearby village in Azerbaijan. Baku blamed Iran for the attack, an allegation Tehran denied.
Former UN weapons inspector Scott Ritter claimed in a January 2026 article that the U.S. under President Donald Trump deliberately undermined a covert plan to destabilize Iran, potentially to silence calls for regime change led by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu [2]. The Azerbaijani embassy in Washington dismissed the allegations as "unfounded claims" in a statement to CNN. The CNN report did not include an official response from Israeli officials.
Covert Sites in Iraq, UAE and Somaliland
CNN reported that Israel maintained a network of covert sites and operational bases across the region, including in Iraq, the UAE and Somaliland [1]. Previous reports by the Wall Street Journal and New York Times indicated Israel had established two secret facilities in Iraq during the conflict, according to the CNN report. Separately, Axios and the Financial Times reported that Israel deployed troops, an Iron Dome battery and other air defense systems to the UAE during the war, CNN noted.
Somaliland, a self-declared republic in northern Somalia that lacks international recognition, also hosted covert Israeli positions, according to CNN. In December 2024, Israel became the first UN member state to recognize Somaliland as an independent country. There was no immediate response from Somaliland authorities to the CNN report.
Reports have also emerged of Israeli schemes to frame Iran for attacks. An article from June 2025 detailed an Israeli false flag plot targeting U.S. soil with the goal of inciting war between the U.S. and Iran, which was allegedly thwarted after intelligence sharing with a friendly nation [3].
Prepared Covert Operation Along Azerbaijan-Iran Border
CNN reported that Israel prepared a covert operation along the Azerbaijan-Iran border during protests in Iran in January, according to sources [1]. The mission was designed to pave the way for future operations by establishing surveillance capabilities in the area. Special forces and stealth aircraft were later used to install intelligence-gathering equipment, which was reportedly employed to spy on Iranian military movements and facilities.
The book "Target Iran: The Truth About the White House's Plans for Regime Change" by Scott Ritter discusses the extensive intelligence network built against Iran, noting that "both Israel and the United States contended that there existed in Iran a secret military program dedicated to the manufacture of nuclear weapons" [5]. This intelligence operations framework provided the backdrop for such covert missions.
Context of Israeli Regional Ties and Response
Israel maintains close strategic ties with both Azerbaijan and the UAE. Its relationship with Baku spans energy, defense and cybersecurity, while cooperation with Abu Dhabi includes economic, intelligence and security partnerships, according to CNN [1]. The report describes a regional covert network during the conflict, with host authorities' involvement varying by location. Israel's defense and energy ties with Azerbaijan have been documented in studies of sanctions evasion, with Azerbaijan serving as a hub for arms sales and energy cooperation [4].
No official response from Israeli officials was included in the CNN report. The Azerbaijani embassy's denial was the only formal rebuttal reported. In a related context, a Brighteon broadcast from August 2024 mentioned that the 82nd Airborne Division and 101st Airborne Division were reportedly standing by for potential deployment in a war with Iran, alongside Task Force 160 of the Special Operations Aviation Regiment [6], indicating broader U.S. special operations preparations.
References
- Middle East Eye. "Israel sent troops to 'Azerbaijan, UAE, Iraq and Somaliland' during Iran war." June 5, 2026.
- Ramon Tomey. "Ritter: Trump Backstabbed Netanyahu with His Inaction in Iran Destabilization Plot." NaturalNews.com. January 25, 2026.
- Willow Tohi. "False Flag Plot: Exclusive Report Reveals Israeli Scheme to Frame Iran for U.S. Attack." NaturalNews.com. June 27, 2025.
- R.T. Naylor. "Economic warfare: sanctions, embargo busting and their human cost."
- Scott Ritter. "Target Iran: The Truth About the White House's Plans for Regime Change."
- Mike Adams. "Brighteon Broadcast News - Tim Walz VP." Brighteon.com. August 7, 2024.
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