Category: Azer News

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has denied circulating claims that he had died, addressing the rumors in a video message and dismissing viral allegations about his appearance, AzerNEWS reports.

According to reports, Netanyahu shared a video to refute conspiracy theories spreading on social media that claimed he had six fingers, showing his hands to demonstrate that the allegation was false.

The video was released amid a wave of online rumors suggesting that the Israeli leader had died, which officials and Netanyahu himself described as baseless misinformation.

Netanyahu’s response comes as speculation and conspiracy theories continue to circulate widely across social media platforms, prompting the prime minister to personally address the claims and reaffirm that he is alive and carrying out his duties as head of government of Israel.

Israel has notified the United States that it is “running critically low” on ballistic missile interceptors, Semafor reported on Saturday, citing anonymous US officials, AzerNEWS reports.

One of the sources said that Washington has been aware of the situation “for months,” although it is currently unknown whether the US and Israel have a plan in place to tackle the issue.

The official added that Israel is “coming up with solutions” and confirmed that the US is not in a similar situation. “We have all that we need to protect our bases and our personnel in the region and our interests,” the official stressed.

Additional sessions are being held within the framework of the Global Baku Forum, which this year is dedicated to the theme ‘Bridging Disagreements in the World in Transition.’

AzerNEWS reports that the event has brought together former heads of state and government, leaders of international organizations, and influential experts from around the world in Baku.

Participants are discussing a wide range of topics, including global security, international cooperation, and the geopolitical challenges shaping the modern world.

The 13th Global Baku Forum serves as an international platform for dialogue among political leaders, policymakers, and experts, focusing on ways to address emerging global risks and strengthen cooperation in a rapidly changing international environment.

The news will be further updated.

Turkish drone manufacturer Baykar on Saturday unveiled a new kamikaze unmanned aerial vehicle, the K2, in a video set to Waltz No. 2, featuring artificial intelligence-based flight and targeting systems, AzerNEWS reports, citing Azertag.

The K2 is capable of autonomous swarm flight and uses AI vision for navigation, targeting and engagement, it said.

It has a range of more than 2,000 kilometers (1,240 miles), carries a 200-kilogram (440-pound) warhead, and has a maximum takeoff weight of 800 kilograms.

The drone can take off from short or unprepared strips and is designed to be reused for multiple deployments.

Baykar is one of Trkiye’s leading drone manufacturers and has exported UAVs to multiple countries. Its existing platforms include the tactical Bayraktar TB2, the high-altitude Bayraktar

Akinci, the ship-capable Bayraktar TB3, and the jet-powered Bayraktar Kizilelma.

In the promotional video, the drone is seen taking off, flying in formation and performing coordinated maneuvers, with the famous waltz composed by Dmitri Shostakovich playing in the background.

Waltz No. 2 is an iconic, hauntingly nostalgic piece known for its “dark cabaret” style, combining cheerful cabaret vibes with undertones of melancholy and dark, dramatic harmonies, written by the Soviet composer and pianist Dmitri Shostakovich in 1938.

The evacuation of foreign nationals from Iran via the ‘Astara’ state border crossing continues.

AzerNEWS reports that between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. today, a total of 60 individuals entered Azerbaijan through the border checkpoint.

Among those evacuated were 43 Indian citizens, 6 Russians, 4 Canadians, 3 Tajiks, 3 Azerbaijanis, and 1 Pakistani.

The evacuees underwent all necessary procedures at the border checkpoint, including document verification and registration, before being safely admitted into Azerbaijani territory.

The Astara crossing has become a crucial exit route for foreign nationals stranded in Iran following recent Israeli and U.S. airstrikes. Azerbaijani authorities have been coordinating with foreign missions to ensure orderly evacuation, safety, and humanitarian support for those seeking temporary refuge.

The U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has issued a license allowing the sale of Russian oil and petroleum products that had already been loaded onto ships before March 12, 2026, AzerNEWS reports.

According to the document, General License No. 134 authorizes the supply and sale of crude oil and petroleum products of Russian origin that were loaded onto vessels as of March 12, 2026. The license is valid from March 12 to April 12.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent emphasized that the permit applies only to oil that is already in transit and does not allow new shipments to be loaded. The goal of this decision is to prevent disruptions in global fuel supplies and reduce potential volatility in international energy markets.

‘This narrowly targeted short-term measure will not provide significant financial benefits to the Russian government,’ Bessent wrote on the social network X.

Earlier, on March 5, the United States granted India a 30-day license to purchase Russian oil that had already been loaded onto tankers before the restrictions took effect.

Analysts note that such temporary licenses are often used to avoid sudden supply shocks in global energy markets. By allowing already-shipped cargoes to reach their destinations, regulators try to balance sanctions policy with the need to maintain stability in oil prices and international trade flows.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) plans to launch the Artemis II mission on April 1, marking an important step in humanity’s return to the Moon, AzerNEWS reports.

This was announced by Lori Glaze, Acting Assistant Administrator for Exploration Systems Development at NASA.

‘Although I and the agency as a whole feel confident in targeting April 1 as our first opportunity, we still have some work to do,’ she said.

The crew of the 10-day mission will include NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch, and Victor Glover, as well as Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen from the Canadian Space Agency.

The astronauts will fly aboard the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, developed by Boeing, and travel inside the Orion spacecraft built by Lockheed Martin.

The launch was originally scheduled for February but had to be postponed due to issues with the rocket’s helium supply system. Engineers needed to return the rocket to the hangar for additional inspections and repairs.

If successful, Artemis II will become the first crewed mission of NASA’s Artemis Program and the first time astronauts travel around the Moon since the historic Apollo 17 mission in 1972. During the flight, the crew will perform a lunar flyby, testing the spacecraft’s systems and preparing the way for future missions that aim to land astronauts on the Moon later in the decade.

Saudi Arabia has begun rerouting its oil exports through the Red Sea amid rising tensions around the Strait of Hormuz.

AzerNEWS reprts that the move comes as Iran threatens to block the Strait of Hormuz, prompting Riyadh to prioritize shipments through the Yanbu al-Bahr port and the Red Sea route.

Recent reports indicate that 11 very large crude carriers (VLCCs) have arrived at Yanbu al-Bahr and are currently awaiting loading.

State-owned Saudi Aramco has stated that supplies along this route could reach 5 million barrels per day in the near future. However, local infrastructure has not previously handled such large volumes. By comparison, in March, an average of 2.7 million barrels per day were transported through Yanbu al-Bahr.

Thirteen U.S. service members have been killed and nearly 200 others injured since the start of Washington’s military operation against Iran, AzerNEWS reports.

According to The Wall Street Journal, which cited a U.S. official, about 10 of the wounded troops remain in serious condition, while roughly 170 have already returned to duty.

The report also noted that six service members were killed on Thursday when a KC-135 Stratotanker U.S. aerial refueling aircraft crashed.

The casualties come amid ongoing military operations and rising tensions between the United States and Iran.

A Level 1 Evaluator Training Course (ETC-49) has been held in Azerbaijan under the Operational Capabilities Concept program within the framework of the NATO Partnership for Peace Programme, AzerNEWS reports.

According to Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the course took place at the War Games Center of the National Defense University of Azerbaijan.

A total of 22 participants from Azerbaijan and 30 instructors and trainees from NATO and partner countries attended the training. During the course, participants carried out various theoretical and practical exercises both individually and in groups.

The primary aim of the course was to certify qualified military personnel capable of evaluating units and subunits declared to the Alliance’s Joint Force Pool.