Iranian Arash-2 kamikaze drones strike Nakhchivan International Airport and civilian school in Azerbaijan

Two Iranian kamikaze drones struck civilian targets in Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan exclave on March 5, 2026, injuring two and damaging the international airport.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 5, 2026, 4:47 AM EST

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Defense Blog

Targeted Strikes on Civilian Infrastructure

The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry has confirmed a direct aerial assault by Iranian forces on the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. Two drones entered Azerbaijani airspace from the south, traveling approximately 10 kilometers from the Iranian border before impacting their targets. The first munition struck the terminal of Nakhchivan International Airport—the exclave's primary aviation hub—while the second drone impacted near a school building in a nearby residential village. Emergency services were deployed to both sites to extinguish fires caused by the explosive payloads.

Technical Analysis: The Arash-2 Platform

Local reports and military observers have identified the weapons used as Arash-2 loitering munitions. The Arash-2 is a sophisticated Iranian "kamikaze" drone that is significantly larger and faster than the more common Shahed-136. It is specifically designed for long-range precision strikes against stationary targets, carrying a substantial warhead estimated at 120 kilograms. Unlike accidental incursions, the pattern of these two separate impacts has led regional analysts to conclude that the strikes were deliberate and coordinated rather than the result of a technical malfunction or a stray flight path.

Casualties and Local Impact

Initial assessments from the site of the attack indicate that at least two individuals have been injured. The strike on the airport terminal has disrupted essential transportation links that connect the geographically isolated Nakhchivan exclave to mainland Azerbaijan. With the exclave separated from the rest of the country by Armenian territory, the airport serves as a critical lifeline for both civilian travel and the transit of essential goods. The second strike near a school building highlights the high risk to civilian life in the densely populated border regions during the current conflict.