On December 5, the Press Office of the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan reported that Azerbaijan-Turkey joint military exercises are held according to the agreement on cooperation in the military field signed between Azerbaijan and Turkey,
The personnel of different types of troops of the Azerbaijan Army and the Turkish Armed Forces, combat, and special-purpose engineer-fortification equipment, as well as military aviation vehicles, participated in the exercise in the city of Baku, as well as in the regions of Astara, Jabrayil (the border with Iran) and Imishli.
"According to the scenario, units of the Ground Forces, Air Force, Special Forces, Engineer Forces, Missile and Artillery Forces of the Azerbaijan Army are carrying out various training and combat missions together with the Turkish Armed Forces. In the training, the military use modern combat methods, the application of artillery, aviation, and other types of troops in military operations, the organization of their interaction, and the construction of pontoon bridges to open a passage over rivers [to advance into the Iranian side of the border.] The Iranian side did the same exercises several weeks ago, and various tasks of landing in the depth of the conventional enemy are carried out," the information from the Ministry of Defense stated.
The main focus of the joint training was on ensuring combat coordination during the interaction of troops, improving management, sharing experience, and increasing the professionalism of personnel.
Notably, the tension in Iran-Azerbaijani relations has been going on for more than two months. Thus, in October-November, Iran conducted military exercises on the border with Azerbaijan, and Azerbaijan conducted military exercises on the border with Iran. Also, official Tehran detained Azerbaijani citizens in connection with the terrorist incident in Shiraz. The security agencies of Azerbaijan arrested two groups of Iranian special services that were said to be related to subversive activities in Azerbaijan. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan said that a note was sent to the Embassy of Iran in Azerbaijan on December 3 to clarify the information spread about the illegal crossing of Iranian citizens to the territory of Azerbaijan.
