The Command of the Israel Defence Forces on Sunday issued a decree prohibiting the presence of the country’s servicemembers in Georgia and Azerbaijan. The decision comes amid threats from Iran to attack Israeli targets abroad.
Military personnel in Azerbaijan and Georgia were ordered to leave the countries immediately, both conscripts and contract servicemembers.
The individuals may have been in Georgia and Azerbaijan for a short vacation or to visit their families, the Israeli media clarified, adding both countries were close to Iran, and Azerbaijan had a direct border with the Islamic Republic. “Both countries, Azerbaijan and Georgia, maintain friendly relations with Iran and have large Iranian communities.”
Iran threatened Israel with retaliatory measures after Ismail Haniyeh, head of the political bureau of the radical Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas, was killed in Tehran on July 31. Hamas and Iran have blamed Israel for the murder.
US sources later said Iran might abandon its original plans and warned the massive strike would increase tensions in the region and create the risk of a direct confrontation between Iran and Israel.
