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Part of the video of the conflict with the Azerbaijani forces released by the Ministry of Defense of Armenia on the 27th (local time). AFP = Yonhap News
At least 18 people were killed in armed clashes between Armenia and Azerbaijan, a country bordering the South Caucasus, which has been sparking ethnic conflict since the former Soviet Union.
According to Reuters and the British Guardian, on the 27th (local time), Armenian and Azerbaijani forces clashed in Nagorno-Karabakh, a disputed area.
The Armenian government said Azerbaijani troops attacked civilian settlements in the region and, in retaliation, destroyed two Azerbaijani helicopters, three drones and three tanks. Azerbaijan, on the other hand, denied the allegations and refuted that the Armenian side first acted provocatively and acted as defense of the territory.
Nagorno-Karabakh said 16 soldiers and two civilians were killed and more than 100 soldiers and civilians were injured as a result of airstrikes and artillery in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan also revealed that five people were killed in the Armenian bombings and that seven villages within Nagorno-Karabakh were captured. Armenia, Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan have declared martial law.
The Prime Minister of Armenia, Nicole Pasignan. EPA = Yonhap News
Nagorno-Karabakh has been recognized as Azerbaijani territory since its incorporation into Azerbaijan under Soviet rule. However, more than 90% of the population are Armenians who believe in the Eastern Orthodox religion, and the Azerbaijani Turkish Muslim population differs in languages, ethnicities and religions, creating strong political and social conflicts. In particular, between 1988 and 1994, the Azerbaijanis attempted to suppress the armed forces of the Armenians’ claims for separate independence and incorporation into Armenia, and war broke out in the region.
Nagorno-Karabakh is also a region where gas pipelines transport Caspian oil and natural gas from Azerbaijan to other parts of the world. Furthermore, if Azerbaijan attacks a nuclear power plant in Armenia, damage to nearby areas is also a cause for concern.
The President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev. Associated Press = Yonhap News
Turkey has declared its support for Azerbaijan. Turkish President Rezef Taif Erdogan pledged to support Azerbaijan, a traditional ally, “Armenia is the biggest threat to peace in the region. The whole world must work with Azerbaijan against aggression and cruelty ”.
Armenian Prime Minister Nicole Pasinyan demanded that the international community prevent Turkey from intervening in the conflict. Reuters reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin made a phone call with Prime Minister Pasignan about this, but details were not disclosed.
The European Union and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) have urged both countries to immediately stop using force and enter into negotiations.
According to Reuters, at least 200 people were also killed in clashes between Armenia and Azerbaijan in 2016. The two countries also participated in an armed conflict in July, killing at least 16 people.
Reporter Lee Byung-jun [email protected]
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