Israeli sources have disclosed new details about Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s anticipated visit to Azerbaijan, which was announced recently. According to The Times of Israel, citing two independent sources, the visit is scheduled to take place in the first half of May.
In Baku, Netanyahu is expected to meet with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. The agenda includes discussions on Azerbaijan’s potential role as a mediator in Israeli-Turkish talks regarding Syria, Baku’s plans to join the Abraham Accords, and initiatives to strengthen bilateral and trilateral relations between Israel, Azerbaijan, and the United States.
It’s worth noting that technical consultations between Israeli and Turkish representatives were recently held in Baku, focusing on security cooperation and efforts to prevent clashes in Syria. Additionally, President Aliyev held a meeting in Antalya with Ahmed al-Sharaa, the transitional president of Syria.
Retired IDF Captain and research fellow at the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies, Alex Grinberg, wrote in The Jerusalem Post that Netanyahu’s upcoming visit to Baku “sent shockwaves through Tehran.”
“This move underscores Azerbaijan’s growing role as a strategic bridge between Israel and Turkey, particularly regarding Syria, and signals a new geopolitical dynamic with far-reaching consequences. For Iran, these developments are deeply concerning. Tehran views Baku’s mediation between Jerusalem and Ankara as a direct threat to its ability to project influence in both the Levant and the Caucasus,” Grinberg wrote.
According to him, the weakening of the Assad regime—partly due to Israel’s systematic strikes that have undermined Hezbollah—has already deprived Iran of its primary stronghold in Syria. The growing Turkish presence in the region further diminishes Iran’s chances of reclaiming influence.
Grinberg also noted that Baku’s increasing involvement in Levantine affairs indicates a shift in its strategic role: Israel and Azerbaijan are no longer merely reacting to threats but are actively employing strategic and indirect methods to counter Iranian interests. Tehran’s hopes of dragging its adversaries into localized conflicts through proxy forces appear to be fading.
A recent Asharq Al-Awsat report outlines Israel’s evolving strategy in a post-Assad Syria, aimed at dismantling Iran’s military presence with the help of regional partners. As the Assad regime’s grip weakens and Russia’s influence wanes due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, Azerbaijan—a Muslim-majority country with strong ties to both Israel and Turkey—has emerged as a potential mediator.
“The informal but strategic triangle between Baku, Jerusalem, and Ankara could reshape the Syrian theater. Azerbaijan’s close military and intelligence ties with Israel give it a unique leverage. For Iran, any erosion of its influence in Syria is a red line. The Islamic Republic has spent decades building a land corridor from Tehran to Lebanon, supported by Hezbollah. Losing Syria would be a devastating strategic setback. The growing closeness between Baku and Israel also carries symbolic weight. Azerbaijan’s potential inclusion in the Abraham Accords, Washington’s flagship regional normalization initiative, would mark a major milestone in Muslim-Israeli cooperation,” Grinberg emphasized.
He concludes that if Baku succeeds in mediating Israeli-Turkish cooperation, Iran risks losing its vital corridor linking Iraq to Lebanon—undermining its regional standing and its ability to supply Hezbollah.
