Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. The described techniques provide for first integrated access and backhaul (IAB) node establishing a signaling connection with an IAB donor node and a sidelink connection with a second IAB node or a user equipment (UE). The first IAB node may include a mobile termination unit and a distributed unit and may support sidelink communications. In some cases, the first IAB node may report an indication of sidelink communications support, receive an indication of sidelink communication authorization, and receive sidelink configuration information. The first IAB node may transmit one or more data messages to the IAB donor on the signaling connection and transmit one or more data messages to the second IAB node or the UE via the sidelink connection.