BAKU, Mar 8: Iran’s military has urged neighboring Azerbaijan to expel Israeli presence from its territory to protect regional security, just one day after Baku accused Tehran of plotting attacks on its soil.

The demand, issued Saturday by an Iranian military spokesman, called on Azerbaijan—as a Muslim nation—to remove “Zionists” to prevent insecurity from spreading and endangering both its people and Iran.

Tensions flared after Azerbaijan claimed it foiled Iranian terrorist plots targeting an oil pipeline, a synagogue, and Jewish leaders, while Iran stayed silent on those charges.

The situation worsened Thursday when four drones struck Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan exclave, including one hitting an airport; Baku blamed Iran, which denied involvement and pointed to Israel as staging a provocation. Israel remains a close ally and key arms supplier to Azerbaijan, while Tehran has long accused it of using Azerbaijani land for intelligence operations against Iran.