Azerbaijan thwarts attack against Israeli embassy in Baku – report

An Afghani citizen planning a terrorist attack on the Israeli Embassy in Baku was arrested by Azerbaijani authorities recently, Azerbaijani media reported on Monday.

Azerbaijan’s State Security Service announced on Monday that it had arrested Fawzan Mosa Khan, an Afghani citizen, on suspicion of conspiring with additional individuals to conduct a terrorist attack on the embassy of a third country in Baku.

A video released by the State Security Service showed Khan discussing how he would monitor the target of the attack, as well as footage of Khan monitoring the location.

Khan was planning to use explosives and other weapons in an attack on the embassy, according to the State Security Service.

The State Security Service did not specify which country’s embassy was being targeted, although the Azerbaijani Turan news outlet noted that the video released by the State Security Service indicated that the suspect was conducting surveillance around the Hyatt Regency hotel complex, where the Israeli embassy is located.

President Isaac Herzog and Azeri counterpart Ilham Aliyev in Baku, on May 29, 2023 (credit: HAIM ZACH/GPO)

Regional tensions surrounding Israel and Azerbaijan’s close ties

Azerbaijan and Israel have close ties, including arms sales by Israel to Azerbaijan. Earlier this year, Azerbaijan opened an embassy in Tel Aviv.

The ties between the two countries have drawn the ire of Iran in recent years, with Azerbaijan claiming repeatedly over the past year that it has caught Iran-backed cells planning attacks in the country, including cells planning coups to establish a state under Sharia law in Azerbaijan.

The announcement by the State Security Service on Monday did not link the arrested Afghani citizen to the recent tensions with Iran.