| Unit Name: | Marine Infantry Battalion |
| Native Name: | Azerbaijani: Dəniz Piyada Taburu |
| Start Date: | 1994 |
| Country: |  Azerbaijan |
| Type: | Marines |
| Specialization: | Amphibious reconnaissance Amphibious warfare Armoured warfare Artillery observer Anti-tank warfare Bomb disposal CBRN defense Close-quarters combat Counterinsurgency Demining Desert warfare Fire support Force protection HUMINT Indirect fire Intelligence assessment Maneuver warfare Military engineering Naval boarding Patrolling Raiding Reconnaissance Urban warfare |
| Size: | 2,000 |
| Command Structure: | Azerbaijan Armed Forces |
| Garrison: | Zikh (outskirts of Baku) |
| Equipment: | IWI Tavor X95[1] |
The Marine Infantry Battalion (az|Dəniz Piyada Taburu) is a marine corps of the Republic of Azerbaijan.[2] It serves in combat operations an amphibious assault force of the Azerbaijani Navy.[3] [4] [5] It is currently based in Zığ. Its polygon is on Wulf Island in the Bay of Baku.[6]
Due to a need for extra troops on the front lines of the First Nagorno-Karabakh War, a Marine Battalion was formed from the personnel of the naval and ground units of the Naval Forces. The battalion was sent on 19 April 1994[7] to the front in order to prevent an enemy offensive in the Aghdam, returning on 25 July upon the successful completion of its combat mission.[8] A United States Navy delegation visited Baku from 15 to 18 September 2009 to familiarize themselves with the service combat activities of the unit.[9] Exchanges of marines have also been carried out with a number of foreign countries.
Members of the marine infantry took part in hostilities during the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war. The marines took part in the capture of the Qubadli District.[10] They were honored alongside other military personnel at the Baku Victory Parade on Azadliq Square on 10 December. The marine formation was led by First Class Captain Zaur Guliyev.[11] Captain Guliyev was earlier awarded the title of Hero of the Patriotic War.[12] Personnel of the marine infantry completed their missions and returned to their base on 1 December, during which the Commander of the Naval Forces Rear Admiral Subhan Bekirov expressed gratitude to them.[13]