Threat of New War Looms as Azerbaijan Forces Launch Attack on Nagorno-Karabakh

Threat of New War Looms as Azerbaijan Forces Launch Attack on Nagorno-Karabakh

Azerbaijan has sent troops backed by‌ artillery attacks into Armenian-controlled Nagorno-Karabakh, warning that its operation would ⁣not stop‌ until Armenian forces surrender.

The attacks‍ on Tuesday raised the threat ⁤of a ⁢new ⁢war ⁣in ​the ethnic Armenian region of ⁢Azerbaijan, which has been a flashpoint since the⁤ collapse ⁤of the Soviet Union. It is internationally recognised as Azerbaijani territory but part of it is run by separatist Armenian authorities who⁤ have‍ said the area, with a ⁢population of about 120,000, is their ancestral homeland.

Baku launched what it ⁢has called an “anti-terrorist operation” hours after four soldiers and two civilians were killed by landmines that it claimed were planted by Armenian saboteurs.

Azerbaijan’s defence ministry said⁢ it was intended to “disarm and secure the ‌withdrawal⁤ of formations of Armenia’s armed forces from our territories, [and] neutralise‌ their military infrastructure”.

Azerbaijani forces ​on Tuesday⁤ seized more than 60 military posts‍ and ⁤destroyed up to 20 military vehicles with other hardware, the ministry said‍ in⁣ a statement.

Armenia’s foreign ministry condemned ‌the attacks and said Azerbaijan ⁢had “unleashed⁢ another large-scale aggression against the people of Nagorno-Karabakh, aiming⁤ to complete its policy ​of ethnic cleansing”.

Link from <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/9/19/azerbaijan-forces-attack-nagorno-karabakh-as-threat-of-new-war-looms” target=”_blank” style=”color:blue” rel=”noopener”>www.aljazeera.com

Exit mobile version