Israel exposes secret Iranian network that was planning attacks in Azerbaijan

According to intelligence data, the planned attack targeted the Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan oil pipeline, which transports oil from Azerbaijan to the Mediterranean Sea via Georgia and Türkiye.

In a joint statement, Israel’s intelligence agencies, Mossad and Shin Bet, said the plan had been thwarted several weeks earlier.

They stated that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) was behind the preparation of the attacks.

In addition to the pipeline, the group planned strikes against Israeli and Jewish sites in Azerbaijan. These included the Israeli embassy, a synagogue in Baku, and leaders of the Jewish community in Azerbaijan.

Members of the network reportedly had explosive drones and fragmentation charges at their disposal. They also collected intelligence on targets through surveillance and photography.

The suspects were detained by Azerbaijani law enforcement agencies.

"This exposure, alongside strenuous intelligence ​investigation and operational ​activities on ⁠the ground, led to the uncovering of the secret terrorist network that has been established ​within the IRGC and its chain of command," the statement said.

Israel also reported that the head of the network was Rahman Moqadam, who led the IRGC intelligence special operations unit.

According to the Israeli side, he was killed last month during Israeli and US airstrikes.

The statements about the exposure of Iranian plans came amid ongoing confrontation between Tehran, the United States, and Israel, which remains far from over.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized that operations against Iran are ongoing and that the situation could change at any moment.

According to him, Israel and the United States intend to achieve their objectives in the confrontation with Tehran.