Azerbaijan summons Iranian ambassador over alleged air raid

March 11 (EUROPA PRESS) –

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan has announced this Saturday the summons of the Iranian ambassador to the country after the alleged incursion of an Iranian fighter plane into its airspace, in a new episode of tensions between the two countries.

“The incursion took place this Saturday between 09:44 and 10:26 (local time). The military plane flew along the Azeri state border with Iran, from Zangilan to Bilasuvar,” according to the statement published on the Ministry’s website.

The plane stayed for most of the flight between 3 to 5 kilometers from the border but it crossed it at certain times, according to the note, collected by the news portal AzerNews.

“This flight is a provocation and hostile behavior towards Azerbaijan,” according to the note, which condemns “the Iranian side for such a provocative act.”

Azerbaijan reiterates that the Iranian plane carried out the flight without prior warning and in a manner “contrary to international practice”, in a “threat to the security of civil aviation”, which further deteriorates bilateral relations.

Both countries have been locked in constant episodes of tension for 18 months, especially given Baku’s rapprochement with Iran’s rival powers, such as Israel. In addition, the acquisition of territories by Azerbaijan in the recent conflict with Armenia, close to Iran, has not helped to improve the situation.

Since Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi came to power, Iran has increased its border military exercises in acts constantly denounced by the Azeri government, the latest in October last year.