Azerbaijan weighs buying Israeli Arrow-3 missile amid Iran tensions

Al-Monitor Staff

Oct 5, 2021

Israeli soldiers walk near an Israeli Iron Dome defense system (L), a surface-to-air missile system, the MIM-104 Patriot (C) and an anti-ballistic missile the Arrow 3 (R) during a Juniper Cobra joint exercise press briefing at Hatzor Israeli Air Force Base in central Israel, on Feb. 25, 2016. — GIL COHEN-MAGEN/AFP via Getty Images

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.