Azerbaijan Foils Terror Plot Targeting Prominent Jewish Leader Amid Rising Tensions

January 15, 2025

12:15 PM

Reading time: 3 minutes


Azerbaijan's secret service (DTX) has successfully thwarted an assassination attempt on a prominent member of the Jewish community, highlighting the ongoing threats faced by Jewish figures in the region. According to sources within the community, the intended victim is a senior and highly respected individual, known both in Azerbaijan and internationally, especially in Israel, for his efforts in strengthening ties between the two nations.

The operation led to the arrest of two suspects – Georgian citizen Aqil Aslanov and Azerbaijani citizen Ceyhun Ismayilov – who were apprehended near a Jewish center. Local media reports suggest that Aslanov, a known drug trafficker, had been approached by foreign intelligence agents while abroad. These agents, believed to be connected to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), reportedly offered him $200,000 to assassinate the Jewish community leader.

Aslanov recruited Ismayilov to gather critical intelligence about the target, including information on his residence, workplace, and daily routines, which was then transmitted to their handlers. This foiled plot points to an alarming trend of Iranian-backed terror operations targeting Jewish and Israeli individuals worldwide.

Rising Tensions with Iran and Azerbaijan’s Strategic Role

This incident follows a troubling pattern of Iranian-backed terror plots targeting Jewish figures, notably including the 2024 assassination of Rabbi Zvi Kogan in the UAE. Experts, including those at the Begin-Sadat Center, have identified Azerbaijan as a frequent target for such attacks, but the country’s security forces, particularly the DTX, have managed to thwart several of these operations over the years.

While Azerbaijan's security forces continue to neutralize many threats, the Iranian regime's hostility towards Azerbaijan remains strong. The partnership between Azerbaijan and Israel, rooted in shared interests and strategic concerns about Iran, has grown in importance, especially during the height of the 2024 war with Hamas. Azerbaijan increased its oil exports to Israel by 55% during this period, despite pressures from both Iran and Turkey.

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