On September 19, 2023, local time, in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, the flames of the explosion rose over the positions of Armenian troops.
On September 19, local time, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense announced the launch of an "anti-terrorist operation" in the Nagorno-Karabakh region (referred to as Nagorno-Karabakh region) and demanded the "complete withdrawal" of Armenian troops.
On September 19, 2023, local time, in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, a damaged residential building was damaged after Stepanakert was shelled.
At the same time, the Armenian Foreign Ministry called on Russian peacekeepers in the Nagorno-Karabakh region to intervene and stop Azerbaijan's "full-scale aggression" against the local population.
The Nagorno-Karabakh region is located in the southwest of Azerbaijan and is inhabited overwhelmingly by ethnic Armenians. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, war broke out between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the ownership of the Inna Karabakh region. Although the two countries reached a comprehensive ceasefire agreement in 1994, they have been at odds over the Nagorno-Karabakh issue and armed clashes have occurred from time to time. In the fall of 2020, 44 days of conflict broke out between the two sides. The conflict was mediated by Russia and a peace agreement was reached between the two sides.
Today, Azerbaijan has launched an "anti-terrorist operation" in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, which has led to the escalation of the situation.
On September 19, 2023, local time, in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, the residential building destroyed after the shelling of Stepanakert.
Border clashes continue
The situation in Nagorno-Karabakh has continued to be tense in recent months. On 1 September, Armenia and Azerbaijan accused each other of attacking border posts, with the Asian side claiming that four soldiers had been killed and the Afghan side that three soldiers had been wounded. In addition, the Asian side has repeatedly accused Azerbaijan of exacerbating the humanitarian situation in the region by blocking the Lachin corridor, the only road connecting Armenia with the Nagorno-Karabakh region.
The Armenian side condemned the build-up of troops by Azerbaijan and the blockade of Armenia's only land route to the Nagorno-Karabakh region, the Lachin Corridor. In response, on September 18, the Azerbaijani side stated that trucks full of humanitarian aid had entered the Nagorno-Karabakh region after the Nagorno-Karabakh side and the Azerbaijani government agreed to open a road connecting the Nagorno-Karabakh region with Armenia and Azerbaijan.
However, Azerbaijan claims that the Lachin corridor has long been used to smuggle weapons and mines into the Nagorno-Karabakh region.
Following Azerbaijan's statement on "anti-terrorist operations", the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said that at least six Azerbaijani citizens were killed by two mine explosions in Khojavind, Nagorno-Karabakh region, and that Azerbaijani claimed that the mines in question were planted by Armenian security forces.
There has been an exchange of fire on the ground
On September 19, local time, the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan announced that "local anti-terrorist activities carried out by the Azerbaijani armed forces in the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan are still underway." In this operation, only legitimate military installations and infrastructure will be targets for the use and incapacitation of high-precision weapons, the statement said. The Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense added that humanitarian corridors have been established to facilitate the evacuation of civilians.
Hikmet Hajiyev, foreign policy adviser to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, said that the Azerbaijani armed forces have broken through the line of contact with Armenian forces in several places in the Nagorno-Karabakh region and are determined to achieve their strategic goals.
Messages from the Nagorno-Karabakh region spoke of "large-scale attacks consisting of rocket attacks and shelling" in the area, while the sound of small arms firing could be heard in videos circulating on social platforms.
On September 19, 2023, local time, in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, a girl held her relatives in a shelter when Stepanakert was shelled.
What has been the reaction from all sides?
On September 19, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense released information that the Azerbaijani defense minister and the Turkish defense minister discussed developments in the Nagorno-Karabakh region by telephone, and the Turkish side expressed support for the "anti-terrorist operation" launched by Azerbaijan in the Nagorno-Karabakh region.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Russia was deeply alarmed by the "dramatic escalation" of the situation in the Nagorno-Karabakh region. She said Azerbaijan did not inform the Russian side in advance that it would take military action in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, but informed the Russian peacekeepers only minutes before the start of the operation.
On October 12, 2020, local time, in Ganja, Azerbaijan, people placed flowers and toys in the ruins to commemorate those who died in the conflict as a result of artillery fire.
Regarding the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh, the Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement on its website on the 20th: "In view of the sharp escalation of armed confrontation in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, we urge both parties to the conflict to immediately stop bloodshed, stop hostilities and avoid civilian casualties." "The most important thing now is the immediate resumption of the implementation of the trilateral agreements reached at the highest level in 2020-2022, which provide for all steps for the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue, the cessation of armed confrontation, and all possible efforts to ensure the rights and security of the people of the Nagorno-Karabakh region," the Russian Foreign Ministry noted. ”
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan urged Russia and the United Nations to take action to stop the war. He said Azerbaijan is trying to drag Armenia into another war, but Armenia will not launch any military operations.
Later in the day, large crowds gathered in front of government buildings in Yerevan, Armenia's capital, and traffic disruptions were seen on several main streets in the Armenian capital's city as protesters gathered. Subsequently, law enforcement officers from the Armenian security services went to maintain order in front of the government building. On September 20, protesters on the streets of Yerevan clashed with police in Republic Square.
Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN Secretary-General, expressed concern about the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh, saying: "It is very important that the two sides resume dialogue to avoid any further conflict." ”
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell issued a statement saying that the EU condemns the escalation of the situation in the Nagorno-Karabakh region and calls on Azerbaijan to stop military activities. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said Azerbaijan's military action in the Nagorno-Karabakh region violated its commitments. France called for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council to end the crisis.
A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken would hold urgent talks with all parties to end Azerbaijan's "heinous" actions.