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.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.