[War] Special Report: "Iran Invades Azerbaijan"

[Michael Downey]

Iran Invades Azerbaijan

22 March 2014 APP

*[Tens of thousands of Iranian troops pour into southern Azerbaijan in what
Tehran calls a 'police action.']*

In a move that has absolutely stunned political and military analysts around
the world, the Islamic Republic of Iran has launched a massive invasion of
neighboring Azerbaijan. Reports are very sketchy but the basic understanding
of the situation is that earlier this morning Iranian airborne troops were
dropped just north of the city of  Xankandi while larger armored formations
advanced across the border form Iran. Local media has reported heavy air
strike against local military bases.

Giving a very brief statement a few hours after the invasion began, the
Iranain government characterized the invasion as a 'police action' and
claimed that Kurdish rebels responsible for a major terrorist attack that
severely damaged the Iranian oil industry several months ago had been
sheltered by Azerbaijan and operated training camps in the southern part of
the country. The Iranian statement went on to say that the government in
Baku had oppressed the religiously devout and 'protecting the freedom of
Muslims to practice their religion without fear of secularist Western
puppets' was another cause for their invasion.

Never a strong military power, Azerbaijan stands little chance against the
powerful Iranian military. Senior military analysts working for APP have
surmised that what little strength the Azerbaijani military possessed has
already been quashed by vastly superior Iranian air power and troop numbers.
As more Iranian troops enter the country and entrench themselves in the
south around Xankandi, the future for Azerbaijan seems bleak.

Analysts strongly agree that the 'real' motivation for Iran's invasion is to
capture the Khojavend oil field discovered by a joint American-Azerbaijani
expedition five years ago. Having been completed just two months ago, the
Khojavend field is estimated to be fifty billion barrels in size and
represents the largest find in the south Caucasus. Access to such a large
supply would elevate the Iranian energy shortage and act as a huge source of
income, should Iran be able to find buyers.

As of now international reaction is unknown due to the sheer shock and
surprise the Iranians have elicited. The Azerbajani government, still in the
capital of Baku which as of yet has not been attacked by the Iranians, has
pleaded for the world to send troops to help 'liberate' the country. Russia
has officially condemned Iran, severed all diplomatic relations and ceased
arms shipments. However with so much of their military either occupied in
Chechnya and Georgia or stationed in the Far East with tensions rising in
East Asia, it is unknown when or if the Russians might respond with force.

European markets became very unstable as word of the invasion broke. The
London Stock exchange has fluctuated and world oil prices have increased to
almost $75 USD a barrel, prices not seen since the end of the Iraq War in
2010.

For the moment all of Eurasia stands on a knife edge as Iran marches into
Azerbaijan unopposed.
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