In a major escalation of the ongoing Iran war, Tehran's drones have targeted the passenger terminal of the airport in Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan and a school near the village of Shakarabad, close to the border with Iran. Tehran has since denied involvement in the incident.
At least two people were injured after Iranian drones targeted the passenger terminal of Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan International Airport on Thursday, authorities told Euronews.
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According to a statement from Azerbaijani authorities, one drone struck the airport's terminal building, while another fell near a school in the village of Shakarabad.
"We strongly condemn these drone attacks launched from the territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which resulted in damage to the airport building and injuries of two civilians," the statement said.
Videos from the scene acquired by Euronews show a drone flying towards the airport, damage to its main terminal and emergency crews on site.
In another video seen by Euronews, a drone is seen hitting the airport with a large explosion and a cloud of smoke appearing following the strike.
Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev has accused Iran of committing an "act of terror" following the incident.
“Today, Iran committed an act of terror against the territory of Azerbaijan, against the state of Azerbaijan. The Iranian state fired unmanned aerial vehicles on the territory of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic," Aliyev said during a meeting of the Security Council.
“Iranian officials must provide an explanation to the Azerbaijani side, an apology must be offered, and those who committed this terrorist act must be held criminally liable,” he emphasised.
The Azerbaijani army has been brought to “full combat readiness,“ according to Aliyev.
Azerbaijan's foreign ministry said earlier on Thursday it had summoned Iran's ambassador to the country.
Tehran has since denied it was behind the attack. "The Islamic Republic of Iran ... denies its armed forces launched a drone toward the Republic of Azerbaijan," the Iranian general staff said in a statement, according to state-run media.
However, Azerbaijan's defence ministry has refuted Tehran's denial, stating it "cannot be considered acceptable under any circumstances."
According to the information provided, technical monitoring systems confirmed that four unmanned aerial vehicles belonging to (Iran's armed forces) were directed toward Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan region to carry out attacks," the defence ministry said in a statement.
“Taking the above into account, we expect the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran to stop their obvious denial, express an apology for the incident, and ensure that those responsible are punished by the relevant Iranian authorities,” the statement said.
Meanwhile, Turkey's foreign ministry on Thursday roundly blasted the drone strikes on Azerbaijan, calling for them to end "immediately".
"We strongly condemn the drone attacks carried out today on Azerbaijan," a ministry statement said, adding that Ankara "will continue to stand by Azerbaijan, as it always has."
Nakhchivan is in close proximity to the Iranian-Azerbaijani border.