Another shadow war? Amid Middle East tensions, rivals Israel & Iran now rush to woo Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan just hosted the Iranian president — and weeks later, Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to land in Baku. Why is a small Caspian nation suddenly at the center of such high-stakes diplomacy? Iran and Azerbaijan have spent years trading accusations, cutting ties, and drawing red lines. So why the sudden reset? And more importantly — why is Israel watching so closely? This isn't just about diplomacy. It's about geography, pipelines, alliances — and a potential new front in the Iran-Israel shadow war. Azerbaijan's oil-rich location, wedged between Russia, Iran, and Turkey, makes it a prime vantage point in West Asia. Israel sees a launchpad. Iran sees a threat. And Azerbaijan? It sees leverage. In this episode of Grey Zone, Ananya Dutta breaks down why Azerbaijan matters, what Iran and Israel are fighting over, and whether Baku is playing peacemaker — or power broker.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NDTV
5 hours ago
- NDTV
Missile Launched From Yemen Toward Israel, Says Israeli Military
Cairo: The Israeli military said on Tuesday that it was working to intercept a missile launched from Yemen toward Israel, hours after Israel deployed its navy to hit targets in the Yemeni Red Sea port of Hodeidah. Israel threatened Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi movement - which has been attacking Israel in what it says is solidarity with Gaza - with a naval and air blockade if its attacks on Israel persist.
News18
5 hours ago
- News18
Al Qaeda Leader Issues Kill Threat To Trump In Disturbing Video; Musk, Vance Among Targets
Last Updated: Donald Trump, Elon Musk and JD Vance named in chilling AQAP video urging lone-wolf attacks over Israel support. The head of al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) has called for the assassination of US President Donald Trump and his top advisers in a propaganda video, citing their pro-Israel stance as justification. Sa'ad bin Atef al-Awlaki, who became AQAP's leader in March 2024, issued the call in a 34-minute video titled 'Inciting the Believers" released on Sunday, according to US intelligence sources. Al-Awlaki urged Muslims in the US to 'take revenge" for the war in Gaza and claimed there were 'no red lines" in striking American targets. 'Do not consult anyone about killing infidel Americans," al-Awlaki said, before naming Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth as targets. Tech billionaire Elon Musk was also named, along with unnamed individuals in finance and administration. 'Go after them and their families and all those who have any ties or are close to the politicians of the White House," he said. 'There are no red lines after all that has been happening to our people in Gaza." The terror leader, who has a $6 million bounty on his head, praised recent antisemitic terror attacks and those behind previous assassination attempts on Trump. He also called for violence against Jews, saying: 'Do not leave a single safe place for Jews – just as they have not left any homes, shelters, or respite for the Palestinians." top videos View All Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) is a Yemen-based Islamist militant group that emerged in 2009 following a merger between al-Qaida's Saudi and Yemeni branches. While it shares the core ideology of global jihad with the main al-Qaida network founded by Osama bin Laden, AQAP is considered one of its most active and dangerous affiliates. The group focuses both on regional operations within the Arabian Peninsula and on international terror plots, including attempts to target the US and Europe. AQAP gained notoriety for the 2009 'underwear bomber" plot and the 2015 attack on Charlie Hebdo in Paris. Unlike al-Qaida's central leadership, which has often focused on symbolic strikes, AQAP is known for its operational autonomy, local tribal ties in Yemen, and focus on exploiting regional instability to expand its influence. The US State Department continues to designate AQAP as a foreign terrorist organisation. The group has operated out of Yemen for years and has repeatedly threatened the US and its allies. Intelligence officials are now assessing the credibility and reach of the latest threats. About the Author Shankhyaneel Sarkar First Published:
Indian Express
6 hours ago
- Indian Express
Yemen missile launched toward Israel ‘most likely' intercepted, military says
The Israeli military said on Tuesday that a missile launched from Yemen toward Israel had 'most likely' been intercepted, hours after Israel deployed its navy to hit targets in the Yemeni Red Sea port of Hodeidah. Israel threatened Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi movement – which has been attacking Israel in what it says is solidarity with Gaza – with a naval and air blockade if its attacks on Israel persist. 'Additional interceptors were launched due to the possibility of falling shrapnel from the interception,' the military said in a later statement after sirens sounded in several areas. Since the start of the war in Gaza in October 2023, the Houthis, who control most of Yemen, have been firing at Israel and at shipping in the Red Sea, disrupting global trade. Most of the dozens of missiles and drones they have launched have been intercepted or fallen short. Israel has carried out a series of retaliatory strikes.
