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Clashes between neighboring Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed territory resumed.
Meanwhile, at least one Azerbaijani helicopter has been shot down. Blaming each other.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan says Azerbaijan has launched air and artillery strikes.
Azerbaijan says it is responding to the shelling that began across the border, with civilian casualties caused by the Armenian shelling.
Turkey has announced its full support for Azerbaijan to suppress the Armenian aggression. The European Union (EU) has called for a ceasefire between the two countries.
According to the BBC, both sides have a terrible image. Armenia has already announced the imposition of martial law throughout the country. In addition, the country’s prime minister, Pashinyan, has instructed citizens to be fully prepared to protect the “Holy Homeland”.
According to the Armenian Defense Ministry, Armenia has been targeting civilian areas, including the capital of the Republic of Aratsak (Nagorno-Karabakh region), Stepanakert, since 8:10 am local time on Sunday. So far, two helicopters, three drones and three tanks have been destroyed.
“We will respond proportionally and the political-military leadership of Azerbaijan will have to take responsibility for the whole situation,” he added.
Earlier, Azerbaijan said in a statement that “our forces have launched counter-offensive operations along the border to suppress the war activities of the Armenian armed forces and ensure the safety of civilians.”
The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said that heavy shelling in several villages had caused civilian casualties and significant damage to infrastructure. They said one of their helicopters was lost in the fighting, but its crew is still alive.
They also demanded the destruction of 12 Armenian air defense systems. By early 2016, tensions between the two parties had increased. The fight lasted four days.
The two countries have long disagreed over the Nagorno-Karabakh region. Recently, the dispute has resurfaced.
At one time, Armenia and Azerbaijan were part of the Soviet Union. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, the two countries became independent. Since then, the two neighbors have been at odds over the Nagorno-Karabakh region for the past four decades.
Although the region is internationally recognized as a territory of Azerbaijan, it remains under the control of the Armenian ethnic group. At least 18 people were killed in clashes between the two parties in July.
In response, the largest gathering in a few years in Baku, the Azerbaijani capital, called for a large-scale military operation to seize the territory.
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