Fear of a full-scale war in the Caucasus: military conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan Israel today

Heavy exchange of fire on the border of the disputed region Nagorno-Karabakh • Armenia announced total mobilization and state of emergency • The media in Baku claim that Azerbaijani army forces managed to occupy six villages in the disputed region during the operation

• Azeri tank damaged during armored battles in Nagorno-Karabakh // Photo: Reuters

Intense fighting broke out today (Sunday) in the eastern part of the Nagorno-Karabakh region, which is in dispute between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

According to reports from both sides, the exchange of fire led to some casualties, including of civilians. 

The Azeri Ministry of Defense reported that it launched an extensive operation that included the use of tanks, infantry, artillery and air force, on the border of the Nagorno-Karabakh region, after they claimed that the Azeri had launched concentrated artillery fire at Azerbaijan territory.

The Azerbaijani army issued a series of announcements announcing a military operation and publishing footage from UAVs showing the destruction of Armenian positions along the border. 

Armenia, for its part, has announced a state of military emergency and the general recruitment of reserve forces and volunteers.

Convoys of tanks and armored vehicles were seen across the country making their way to the front.

The Armenians claim that they have so far managed to destroy five Azeri tanks and shoot down two combat helicopters.

The Azeri Ministry of Defense admitted that one of its combat helicopters was shot down but the crew survived the crash. 

Baku media claim that Azerbaijani forces managed to occupy six villages in the disputed territory during the operation, an unprecedented achievement since the Nagorno-Karabakh war in the 1990s, during which Azerbaijan lost control of the country to Armenian separatist forces and the Armenian army.

The one who rushed to back Azerbaijan was Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who accused Armenia of inciting "conflicts in the region."

In Armenia, Erdogan has been accused of sending Islamist forces from Syria to fight alongside the Azeri army.

Russia, for its part, has in the past expressed reluctant support for Armenia. 

During the Nagorno-Karabakh War, Armenian separatists, with the help of the Armenian government, managed to occupy the region, which is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan and hundreds of thousands of Azeri refugees left the region.

At the same time, tens of thousands of Armenians living in Azerbaijan and parts of Nagorno-Karabakh left by the Azeris were forced to flee to Armenian territory.

Both sides reported atrocities and massacres during the fighting.