A wide network of secret military and intelligence positions around Iran was maintained by Israel during the war with Tehran, according to revelations by CNN. At the center is Azerbaijan, where Israeli special forces and Mossad personnel are said to have been deployed at locations near Iran’s northern borders.

According to four sources cited by the American network, Israel secretly deployed military and intelligence units in Azerbaijan during the war with Iran, as part of a broader network of hidden facilities in various Middle Eastern countries.

The forces are said to have operated from several locations in southern Azerbaijan, a short distance from Iran’s northern border and about 100 kilometers from the city of Tabriz, which was targeted by Israeli strikes during the conflict.

According to the same information, special operations units were deployed in the area, carrying out intelligence-gathering missions and drone operations, giving Israel significant surveillance capabilities over northern Iranian territory.

The same sources report that the facilities in Azerbaijan were part of a larger network of secret bases that also included sites in Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, and Somaliland. Initially, these facilities were designed as potential extraction points for personnel in case of emergencies, but later evolved into centers for military and intelligence operations.

According to one source, the mission in Azerbaijan included several dozen personnel from Israeli special forces, the elite air-mobile combat and rescue unit, as well as Mossad staff.

The Embassy of Azerbaijan in the United States categorically denied the information. In a statement, it said it “categorically rejects the baseless claims about the use of Azerbaijani territory for operations against third countries.”

The roles of Somaliland and the UAE

According to the CNN report, the breakaway region of Somaliland provided Israel with an additional strategic base that could be used as an intermediate stop for aircraft conducting long-range missions toward Iran.

CNN also reports that Israel maintained two secret facilities in Iraq during part of the war, providing logistical support and search-and-rescue capabilities.

At the same time, a deployment of the Iron Dome air defense system and its operating personnel was stationed in the United Arab Emirates.

Azerbaijan as a strategic partner

Israel has for years considered Azerbaijan a strategic partner in its confrontation with Iran. According to CNN sources, plans to create secret facilities along the border between the two countries began weeks before the outbreak of the war.

The same reports state that in January 2026, during a period when the Iranian regime was facing mass protests, Israel was planning a covert operation to install surveillance and intelligence-gathering systems along the border with Azerbaijan.

The plan was to be implemented alongside the first military strikes against Iran, but then U.S. President Donald Trump suspended the operation at the time, arguing that Tehran had committed to stopping the violent crackdown on protests.

Israel reportedly continued preparations on its own, deploying stealth aircraft and special forces to install surveillance equipment.

Baku’s close ties with Tel Aviv

Relations between Israel and Azerbaijan are considered particularly close both militarily and economically.

Baku supplies Israel with significant amounts of oil, while Tel Aviv exports advanced weapons systems to Azerbaijan. In 2016, the country even became the first foreign government to acquire the Iron Dome air defense system.

According to analysts cited by CNN, this cooperation also provides Azerbaijan with significant diplomatic benefits in Washington, while strengthening its role as a regional player in the South Caucasus and the Middle East.