Israeli Arms Deal With Azerbaijan Adds to Tensions With Iran
Iran Strengthens Ties With Lebanon as Nations Secure Regional Allies
Israeli defense officials today announced a major arms deal with Azerbaijan, pledging to sell drones and anti-aircraft technology to the nation at a time when a prospective Israeli attack on Iran is on everyone’s minds.
This is particularly important because Azerbaijan borders Iran, and has seen increasingly tense relations with Iran over allegations that CIA and Mossad agents have used the nation for covert border crossings. The deal will likely secure Azerbaijan’s status as an Israeli ally.
Meanwhile, Lebanon’s Defense Minister is in Tehran today, negotiating with his Iranian counterpart. The two are looking to strengthen security relations amid Lebanese concerns of an Israeli attack, and reflecting Iran’s desire for its own proxy along the Israeli border.
The roles of Azerbaijan and Lebanon as possible allies in the event of an Israel-Iran war are not unique, and reflect how quickly a conflict between the two could escalate into a region-wide war.
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John V. Walsh
February 27th, 2012 at 4:26 am
This is most disturbing. Azerbaijan is Iran's road to Russia – and putting it in Israeli hands makes Iran all the more vulnerable. The other path out is Pakistan and by sea, this last controllable by te US.
Dieter
February 27th, 2012 at 5:57 am
Airfields in Azerbaijan are not only the closest to Tehran etc., no overflight of other countries are needed. I had always considered this to be a very unlikely solution of the problems for Israel to attack Iran. I no longer do.
baz
February 27th, 2012 at 9:12 am
i hope iran razes baku to the ground if they help the israelis kill innocent iranians
contraviews
February 27th, 2012 at 1:47 pm
It seems that Israel's influence in the ME, with of course US assistance is spreading. I just read that Egypt has re-opened its Israel ambassy and during the openings ceremony the Israel national anthem was played. This goes to show that the miltary are still in charge and the Egyptian revolution is still not finished. Also the border with Gaza is still closed. This is a very disturbing development which in my view increases the changes of a regional war. As far as Syria is concerned to me the picture is confusing and still not quite clear.Are revolts in the ME being hijacked by the west ? Is the revolt foreign (US/Israel) inspired ? I have not made up my mind about this yet.
Johnny_Warbucks
February 27th, 2012 at 3:55 pm
Isn't that the idea?