(TBA News)

By Dr. Fatima Ibrahim Al-Menoufy

Talking about sectarianism often sparks controversy, undermines the unity of the Ummah and incites division and discord. While it is necessary to avoid this sensitive topic, the Azerbaijani case presents a unique and unusual scenario. The Azerbaijani people are ethnically Turkic, and the Azerbaijani language is one of the Turkic languages, Azerbaijan which is a Shiite-majority country, and despite the fact that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is of this same Turkic ethnic background, yet all these deep cultural and religious ties between Iran and Azerbaijan have not prevented Israel from deeply infiltrating this Muslim country.

Israel has successfully won Azerbaijan’s support in its genocidal war on Gaza and possibly, albeit covertly, in its aggression on Iran. Interestingly, it is the Sunni minority figures in Azerbaijan who have most openly backed Iran in its war against Israel.

Reports: Israeli Drones Attacked Iran from Azerbaijani Territory

Recently, some reports indicated that Israeli drones were launched from Azerbaijan to attack Iran during Israel’s twelve-day aggression. Iran’s ambassador to Armenia, Mehdi Sobhani, confirmed at a press conference that Tehran had asked Baku to investigate reports that Israeli drones violated Iranian airspace via Azerbaijani territory.

Sobhani stated that Baku had assured Tehran it would not allow its land to be used against Iran. However, he warned of Israel’s unpredictable actions, saying: “It is known that the Israel does not adhere to laws or international regulations and may have violated the rules. Still, we need accurate information before taking any position.”

Over the past two years, incidents have added to already strained Iran-Azerbaijan relations. In January 2023, there was an attack on the Azerbaijani embassy in Tehran. Baku also accused Tehran of spying activities. In February 2023, Azerbaijani security forces cracked down on an alleged Iranian spy network, raiding pro-Iranian TV channels in Baku and other cities.

Iran consistently expressed concern over the growing Azerbaijan-Israel diplomatic relationship and feared its territory could be used as a launchpad for Israeli aggression. In an attempt to mend ties, Iran’s president visited Baku in April 2024 after years of diplomatic coldness—mainly due to Azerbaijan’s close relations with Israel.

Yet, Iran’s efforts failed. Reports from November 2024 revealed unprecedented arms shipments and military equipment transfers from Israel to Baku. Israel had also supported Azerbaijan militarily during its most recent war with Armenia over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region.

Cultural Coordination: Eurovision as a Diplomatic Signal

During this year’s Eurovision Song Contest, Azerbaijan was represented by a Jewish singer named Asif Mishaev, while Israel was represented by a singer of Azerbaijani origin named Yuval Raphael. This reflected a remarkable level of coordination. Additionally, Azerbaijan awarded the Israeli contestant full points, which angered Iran and delighted Israeli officials.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz publicly thanked Azerbaijani Defense Minister Zakir Hasanov for the “artistic support,” calling it a symbol of the “true and honest friendship” between the two countries.

In a related article, in The Jerusalem Post noted that the growing Israel-Azerbaijan relationship extends beyond politics and security to cultural spheres as well. This triggered Iranian outrage. Iran’s Fars News Agency described this relationship as “shameful and secretive.” Given the ongoing violent aggression against Palestinians and other Arab nations, this deepening bond raises serious concerns for the future of unity among Islamic nations.

Iran Repeatedly Issues Warnings

Iran has repeatedly warned of Azerbaijan’s deepening ties with Israel. The Revolutionary Guard even conducted military drills near Iran’s northern border with Azerbaijan, broadcasting threatening messages in Azerbaijani (a Turkic language). One of the slogans raised during these drills was: “The road to Jerusalem passes through Baku,” a direct warning from Tehran.

Strategic Cooperation in Energy and Arms

The relationship between Israel and Azerbaijan is not limited to cultural and economic fields. Azerbaijan is one of the largest energy suppliers to Israel, and its state-owned energy company “Socar” recently received a license to extract gas from Israeli waters. Israel, in turn, israel remains the top arms supplier to Azerbaijan.

Amid Islamic absence, Israel was quick to establish diplomatic relations with Azerbaijan in April 1992—just six months after Azerbaijan declared independence from the former Soviet Union. The secular orientation of Baku’s ruling elite encouraged strong ties with Tel Aviv. Azerbaijan became a primary oil supplier to Israel and a major customer of advanced Israeli weaponry. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Israel was Azerbaijan’s second-largest arms supplier from 2011 to 2020.

Arab and Islamic Apathy vs. Israeli Expansion

The former Soviet Muslim states, neglected by the Arabs and Muslim,have become an arena of cultural, security, and geopolitical contention. While Arabs and Muslims failed to build strong ties with these states after the former Soviet Union collapse, Israel wasted no time forging deep connections across Central Asia and Azerbaijan.

Israel strengthened these relationships through commerce, technology, education, military cooperation, and even space exploration, despite the religious and historical bonds between Muslims and the peoples of this important Islamic region.

Israel’s Strategy: Encircling the Arabs and Iran

One of Israel’s main objectives in targeting the Caucasus and Central Asia early on was to exploit the region’s rich energy resources and to strategically encircle Iran, Arab countries, and other Islamic nations.

Israel’s Use of Kazakhstan’s Space Launch Capabilities

Kazakhstan has also been a focal point for Israeli interests, given its strategic significance as a satellite launch hub. The Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, used under Russian approval, has been employed by Israel to launch its communications and surveillance satellites, including the “AMOS-4” satellite—used in part for intelligence that enables operations killing innocents majority if not all of them Arabs and Muslims.

Kazakhstan’s Uranium and Israel’s Nuclear Program

Kazakhstan holds about a quarter of the world’s uranium reserves, essential for nuclear weapons. Israel succeeded in securing deals with Kazakhstan to obtain Kazakh uranium, which has become a backbone of its nuclear arsenal—all while Arab and Islamic nations remained silent and passive.

A Call for Strategic Reawakening

While Israel has worked tirelessly for decades to penetrate this region, the Arabs have lagged far behind—lacking clear vision or coordinated strategy. This delay has resulted in minimal Arab and Islamic influence in that significant Islamic region, now deeply infiltrated by Israel.

This Israeli expansion and infiltration in Muslim countries in caucasus and central asia,to ensure access to its vast natural resources including oil, natural gas, gold and uranium, isn’t just a threat to Iran alone, but to the entire Muslim world.

If Arab and Islamic nations fail to unite and stand firm against those seeking to divide and dominate the Ummah, then they must blame themselves.