Azerbaijan weighs buying Israeli Arrow-3 missile amid Iran tensions
Iran's posturing could further cement Baku's defense ties with Israel.
Azerbaijan is considering buying Israel’s Arrow-3 missile defense system amid tensions with Iran, according to Israel Hayom newspaper. The move would be a major step in typically quiet Israel-Azerbaijan defense ties.
Tensions between the neighbors have flared in recent days after an Azerbaijani assassin allegedly hired by Iran sought to kill wealthy Israeli businesspeople in Cyprus.
Azerbaijan’s government began stopping, fining and in at least two cases detaining Iranian vehicles transiting its territory. Tehran accused Azerbaijan of hosting Israeli military forces — a charge Baku denies — and launched a buildup of its own forces on its mutual border with Azerbaijan.
Aerospace Industries, which manufactures the Arrow-3 system, did not immediately return Al-Monitor’s request for comment.
