Azerbaijan has launched what it called “anti-terrorist activities” in the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh, its defence ministry said, stressing that the offensive would only target military structures.
“Local anti-terrorist activities carried out by the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan in the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan are ongoing,” read a Ministry of Defense statement published on Tuesday.
“As part of the activities, only legitimate military installations and infrastructure are targeted and incapacitated using high-precision weapons,” it said, adding that it has created humanitarian corridors to allow the evacuation of civilians.
Armenia’s foreign ministry called on Russian peacekeeping troops in the region to intervene and stop what is said was Azerbaijan’s “full-scale aggression” against the local population.
A reporter of the AFP news agency said explosions were heard in the region’s de facto capital, known as Stepanakert to Armenians and Khankendi in Azerbaijani.
Armenia said it had no military personnel or equipment in Karabakh, according to its defence ministry.
Article from www.aljazeera.com