Israel's Elite Forces Engage in Azerbaijan Amid Iran Conflict
WHO:
The Times of Israel - Israel deployed elite forces, including commandos and Mossad agents.
CNN - Rahman Moghaddam, head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Special Operations Division, was targeted by Israeli operations.
CNN - US President Donald Trump was involved in discussions regarding military actions against Iran.
WHAT:
The Times of Israel - Israel operated a fighter jet refueling station in Somaliland during the war with Iran.
The Times of Israel - Israeli forces were stationed along the Azerbaijan-Iran border, approximately 60 miles from Tabriz, Iran.
CNN - Israel's operations included intelligence-gathering missions and drone operations from Azerbaijan.
The Times of Israel - Israel launched a bombing campaign on Iran on February 28 to destabilize its regime.
CNN - Israel killed Rahman Moghaddam on March 4 during the Iran war.
CNN - Azerbaijan's State Security Service announced the disruption of an IRGC plot to attack critical infrastructure.
WHERE:
The Times of Israel - The operations took place in Azerbaijan and Somaliland.
CNN - The closest Israeli post to Iran was located about 60 miles from Tabriz, Iran.
CNN - Israeli military maintained two secret facilities in Iraq and an Iron Dome battery in the UAE.
WHEN:
The Times of Israel - The bombing campaign on Iran began on February 28.
The Times of Israel - A truce was declared by Trump on April 8.
CNN - The killing of Rahman Moghaddam occurred on March 4.
CNN - Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar visited Baku less than two weeks after the covert operations began.
WHY:
The Times of Israel - Israel aimed to support its offensive against Iran and gather intelligence.
CNN - Israel viewed Azerbaijan as a strategic partner in its fight against Iran.
HOW:
The Times of Israel - Israeli forces were initially deployed as a rescue team but expanded their mission to include military and intelligence operations.
CNN - The operations involved stealth jets and special forces to install intelligence-gathering devices along the Azerbaijan-Iran border.
(UPDATED June 5, 2026 19:34 UTC)
Israel has deployed elite forces, including commandos and Mossad agents, to conduct military operations targeting Rahman Moghaddam, the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Special Operations Division. These operations, which include intelligence-gathering missions and drone strikes from Azerbaijan, are part of Israel's broader strategy to destabilize Iran, a campaign that began with a bombing on February 28 and resulted in Moghaddam's death on March 4. U.S. President Trump has been involved in discussions regarding military actions against Iran, and a truce was declared on April 8, following these significant developments.