"Israeli embassies may become objects of terror for a long time"

On November 17, a number of media outlets spread a message that the State Security Service (SSS) of Azerbaijan detained an armed man who tried to enter one of the diplomatic missions in Baku. It was alleged that in November 2023, a man named M.H. Huseynzade conducted surveillance, and then tried, with a weapon, to enter the building of the diplomatic mission of a foreign state in order to commit a terrorist attack. As a result of the operation conducted by the staff of the State Security Service, he was detained and disarmed. It is also reported that the Sabail District Court of Baku arrested Huseynzade for 4 months on charges of terrorism motivated by religious fanaticism.

M.H.Huseynzade was charged under two Articles of the Criminal Code 28 (preparation for a crime), 214.2.3 (preparation for terror with firearms) and 28, 214.2.6 (preparation for terror motivated by religious hostility, radicalism or fanaticism.) These articles provide for punishment in the form of imprisonment for a term of 14 to 20 years or life imprisonment.

According to local media, the site of the alleged terrorist attack was the building of the Israeli Embassy. Meanwhile, the Israeli media also wrote that the incident occurred at the embassy of the specified country. It is reported that the Azerbaijani security forces prevented an attempt to attack the Israeli embassy in Baku. However, the Embassy and the State Security Service failed to clarify the issue.

In connection with this incident, ASTNA spoke with security expert Ilham Ismail.

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Question: On November 17, local media spread a message about the detention of a suspect in a terrorist attack at one of the embassies in Baku. However, the official authorities do not confirm the information. How reliable is this message?

Answer: The message indicates the identity of the detainee (M.H. Huseynzade), says about the operation by the State Security Service, about the election of a preventive measure by the Sabail district Court at the request of the investigator of the State Security Service in the form of a 4-month arrest, and if the official authorities do not refute this information, then this means its confirmation.  But the fact that the news did not get on the Internet pages of official bodies is also true. In addition, the reports published initially did not clearly indicate which country the diplomatic mission belongs to. Only after the Israeli press (Ynet.co.il ) spread information that the Israeli embassy was the target, and the detainee was of Iranian origin, the Azerbaijani media also began to spread messages in this form.

Question: But why didn't the official structures publish this news? What are they afraid of?

Answer: Regarding the position of the official bodies, one can only put forward versions. The ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, and Israeli operations are causing protests in many countries of the world, especially in Islamic ones. This is a sensitive period, and despite Israel's friendly relations with Azerbaijan, the military and political support provided by Israel in the Karabakh war, there are also certain protests in Azerbaijan against the mass killings of civilians. However, there are external forces that want these protests to become massive in order to aggravate relations between Azerbaijan and Israel. I believe that in order not to inflate the scale of one person's protest, in order to prevent the occurrence of mass riots as an excuse for what happened, considering the possibility of a particularly strong irritation when presenting the details of the operation in video format, it was deemed appropriate to convey the news in this way.

Question: As you said, according to the information disseminated in the local media, as well as in the Israeli media, the Israeli embassy was meant. However, it was not possible to clarify the information at the embassy. In the published information, the suspect is presented as a native of Iran or a religious fanatic. It turns out that it is precisely because of the latest conflict that Israeli embassies in Muslim countries are now in danger. What steps should Azerbaijan take to protect the embassy of this country from such situations?

Answer: Not only the Israeli embassy, places of compact residence of people of Jewish nationality, schools where they study, courses where Hebrew is studied, and other places should be under strict control, it is necessary to warn them about the need to exercise caution and, most importantly, actively monitor the operational situation in this direction, take comprehensive operational and agent measures. Naturally, what we have mentioned and other necessary measures have been taken, are being taken and will be taken.

Question: The Iranian factor. Azerbaijan is a country bordering Iran. The whole world knows about the relations between Iran and Israel. And it also means that Azerbaijan should be more protected from such threats...

Answer: The Iranian factor is at the center of this process. As a result of many years of harmful propaganda of Iran's religious ideology carried out in Azerbaijan, the current vulnerable situation may become a reason for its fanatical supporters to start activities completely contrary to the interests of our country. Once again, it is known that the Iranian secret services work on the principle of a "sleeping agent", and at the right moment, they are activated. Up to now, the secret services of Azerbaijan have prevented all Iranian provocations, and they are in their power to prevent further.

Question: If this happens, what might face the countries where the Israeli embassies are located?

Answer: It is expected that Israeli embassies will be targeted for a long time, as long as the war between Israel and Hamas continues, and even after its end. It is likely that in any country where there is an Israeli embassy, rather than even in Islamic countries, but in European and American countries, their embassies will become objects of terror. Therefore, it should be more a problem of these countries, not Israel, and, undoubtedly, the necessary steps will be taken.

Question: What do you propose to prevent such events in Azerbaijan?

Answer: No state is immune from terrorism, including Azerbaijan. The secret services of Azerbaijan coped with this task and will prevent terrorist acts with professionalism in the future. In addition, our clergy, having given a correct assessment of the current delicate period, to the extent that they consider it necessary, can conduct enlightenment work among some circles. The slightest action in the direction of aggravation, incitement of interreligious and interethnic relations should be strictly suppressed. I believe that the latest operation, being a deterrent in itself, will prove to be a lesson for the rest.