[ad_1]
The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry says Armenia has launched a missile attack on its second largest city, Ganja. Clashes and tensions between the two countries over Nagarno-Karabakh have escalated since the attack.
Previously, Azerbaijani forces shelled Stepanakart, the capital of the Nagarno-Karabakh region.
Although the Nagorno-Karabakh region is officially Azerbaijan, it is under the control of ethnic Armenians. This is the most serious conflict between the two countries in the disputed region in the last twenty years.
The self-proclaimed authorities have claimed that they launched a missile attack on Azerbaijan’s Ganzar military airport after the Azerbaijani army bombed their regional capital, Stepanakart.
However, Azerbaijan claimed that no member of the army had been killed.
Ganja is the second largest city in Azerbaijan, with a population of around 330,000.
The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry says Armenia has launched a missile attack on the western city.
An adviser to the President of Azerbaijan shared a video on social media showing smoke rising from the damaged building. The Nagarno-Karabakh separatist forces claim that they have also attacked and destroyed the Ganja air base.
Meanwhile, Azerbaijani forces continue to fire on Stepanakart, the capital of Niagarano-Karabakh. The only thing that can be heard in the city is the sound of sirens and explosions.
Stepanekart is reported to have lost power. Countless people leave the city by bus.
Both countries accuse each other of attacking civilians.
Around 240 people have so far died on both sides, including at least 30 civilians. Since the fight started just a week ago, it is now spreading.
Many people, both military and civilian, are feared to have died in the conflict. However, the casualty figures could not be verified by independent sources.
The Azerbaijani army has claimed control of seven villages in the region on Sunday. Nagarno-Karabakh, on the other hand, claims that his troops have made considerable progress in terms of their position.
No country has yet responded to the international community’s call for a ceasefire.
Earlier this week, Armenia announced that it was ready to negotiate a ceasefire, mediated by France, Russia and the United States. However, Armenia has said that it will not hold talks with Nagorno-Karabakh before withdrawing its troops.
Russia, the United States and France try to mediate in the conflict. Armenia says it is ready to negotiate.
But Azerbaijan says that Armenian forces must withdraw from Nagarno-Karabakh before talks can take place. Nagarno-Karabakh was part of Azerbaijan.
When the Soviet Union collapsed, Nagorno-Karabakh declared independence and war broke out, killing some 30,000 people. No country in the world has recognized the independence of Nagarno-Karabakh. BBC
[ad_2]
