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Israel

Israel 'sold kamikaze drones to Azerbaijan'

April 14, 2016 10:46

By

Anshel Pfeffer,

Anshel Pfeffer

1 min read

Reports of an Israeli "suicide drone" being used by Azerbaijan's army in the recent fighting in the contested enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh has caused controversy in the Jewish state and sparked protests from Armenia.

Israel has not confirmed or denied it sells the Harop drone to Azerbaijan.

The Harop is a "loitering munition" - a flying bomb that can take off and position itself over hostile territory. It is designed by Israel Aerospace Industries to home in on radiation-emitting targets, usually anti-aircraft radars and missile batteries.

In recent weeks, the Armenians have claimed that the drone has been used in the fighting that has broken out in Nagorno-Karabakh, the Armenian-controlled enclave within Azerbaijan's territory. Armenian officials backed up their claim by publishing footage of a drone resembling the Harop. They also alleged that a Harop was used to bomb a bus, killing seven Armenian "volunteers".