Fierce battles between Armenia and Azerbaijan in the Nagorno-Karabakh region - Walla! news

2020-09-27T16:14:44.579Z

Birban declared military rule after extensive shelling of the enclave controlled by Armenian separatists. Baku blames the Armenians for the beginning of the exchange of fire, in which civilians were killed and dozens of drones and tanks were destroyed. Erdogan promised to help, Russia calls for an immediate ceasefire. The conflict in the region began after the collapse of the USSR

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Fierce fighting between Armenia and Azerbaijan in the Nagorno-Karabakh region

Birban declared military rule after extensive shelling of the enclave controlled by Armenian separatists.

Baku blames the Armenians for the beginning of the exchange of fire, in which civilians were killed and dozens of drones and tanks were destroyed. Erdogan promised to help, Russia calls for an immediate ceasefire. The conflict in the region began after the collapse of the USSR

Conflict map

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Russia, an ally of the two former Soviet republics, has called for an immediate ceasefire and talks to calm the situation.

The Kremlin said President Vladimir Putin had spoken with the Armenian prime minister.

Turkey, Azerbaijan's main ally, which has no official relations with Armenia, has promised to side with Baku, saying the Armenians are endangering the region's stability.

Historical tension

The clashes today come about two months after a several-day exchange of fire along the border, in which at least 16 people were killed.

Thousands then demonstrated in Azerbaijan calling for war and reconquest of the separatist province.

Nagorno-Karabakh declared independence during a war that broke out with the disintegration of the Soviet Union in 1991.

Despite a ceasefire reached in 1994, Azerbaijan and Armenia continue to blame each other for shooting incidents in Nagorno-Karabakh and along the separate border.

Both led a four-day confrontation in 2016, and the protracted conflict is causing concern among the international community, in part due to a threat to stability in the region that serves as a corridor for pipelines carrying oil and gas to world markets.

Receives support from Erdogan.

President of Azerbaijan in a speech to the nation today (Photo: AP)

According to the Armenian Ministry of Defense, the attack on civilian settlements, including on the capital of the separatist region of Stenkart, began at 8:10 a.m. local time.

"Our response will be measured, and Azerbaijan's military-political leadership bears full responsibility for the situation," it said.

Authorities said a woman and a child were killed in the Azeri shelling.

The Armenian government announced a military regime and the general recruitment of its male citizens, shortly after a similar announcement by the separatist province.

"You will be ready to defend our holy homeland," Armenian Prime Minister Nicole Fascian said in a statement.

Fascian called on the international community to ensure that Turkey does not interfere in the conflict, and warned that Turkish policy could have devastating consequences for the South Caucasus and surrounding areas.

He had earlier accused Azerbaijan of "planned aggression".

Documentation of the Azerbaijani army from the battles

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Azerbaijan, for its part, blamed Armenia for the beginning of the fighting.

Its Ministry of Defense said several villages were intensively shelled, and civilians were killed and injured alongside severe damage to infrastructure.

The Muslim state has declared a "counterattack" along the entire front to crush the fighting activity of Armenia's armed forces and ensure the peace of the civilian population. "

The Azeri Defense Ministry confirmed that one helicopter was lost in battle, but noted that its crew survived. Armenia's air defense destroyed, and denied the statements concerning losses suffered by Armenia. defense Ministry spokesman said later in the day that some villages "were under occupation for years were released" in Nagorno-Karabakh, but denied.

In a speech to the nation, said President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev that Armenia Wants the "new war on new territories." The old ruler said that "Armenia is deliberately provoking Azerbaijan, and they will see a bitter result."

Call for peace between the parties.

Pope Francis (Photo: Reuters)

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called on Armenian citizens to take action against the leadership "dragging them into disaster" and against "those who use it as puppets."

Speaking on Twitter, President Erdogan called on the world to "stand by Azerbaijan in its fight against invasion and cruelty."

He added that Turkey would "continue to increase" its solidarity with Baku.

Unlike Turkey, France, where a large Armenian community lives, called for a ceasefire and immediate dialogue.

Iran, which has borders with both Azerbaijan and Armenia, has also offered to mediate peace talks.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said it was concerned about the humanitarian consequences of escalating the conflict, and called on the parties to "take all necessary measures to ensure the protection of civilians' lives and infrastructure".

The Vatican also called for peace between the parties.

Pope Francis said he was praying for the two countries, urging them to "carry out concrete acts of will, goodness and brotherhood" in order to reach a solution of peace through dialogue.