Netanyahu's Invisible Network: How Israel Encircles Iran Using Secret Bases in Azerbaijan and the Middle East

Israel has secretly deployed elite military units and intelligence agents to Azerbaijan and other Middle Eastern locations as part of an unprecedented geopolitical strategy to counter Iran, according to four sources familiar with the matter cited by CNN.

These clandestine operative bases are designed to suppress Iran's response capabilities. Israeli forces have operated from multiple locations in southern Azerbaijan, close to Iran's northern border, with the nearest point just 100 kilometers from Tabriz, a city targeted by Israeli airstrikes during the recent conflict. This deployment in the Caucasus region highlights how Iran's neighbors have become launchpads for Israeli operations, either voluntarily or through tacit complicity.

The secret operational map reveals a comprehensive encirclement strategy. What began as teams to rescue downed pilots has expanded into an extensive network for espionage and attack across several global areas. These include bases in Azerbaijan for drone operations and electronic intercepts, secret bases in Iraq, an Iron Dome battery in the UAE, and a critical refueling point for long-range flights in Somaliland, which Israel was the first state to officially recognize.

The partnership between Azerbaijan and Israel, while not new, has intensified due to the recent conflict. Preparations began in January amid protests in Iran. Initially, Israel planned to install listening equipment along the border, coordinated with massive airstrikes planned with the U.S. However, the plan was disrupted when then-U.S. President Donald Trump canceled the strikes after receiving assurances that Iran would cease its crackdown on demonstrators. Convinced that Washington's diplomacy would fail, the Israeli cabinet proceeded independently, infiltrating stealth aircraft and special forces to activate the base in Azerbaijan.