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Armenia and Azerbaijan, the two neighboring countries, came to the brink of a full-scale war on Sunday after clashes erupted between Azerbaijani forces and separatist factions in the Armenian-backed Nagorno-Karabakh region, leading to the deaths of civilians and soldiers, while each side blamed the other for the start of the fighting.
What caused this conflict?
Nagorno-Karabakh is an Azeri region, inhabited by Armenians and supported by Armenia. It separated from Azerbaijan and was the scene of many wars in the 1990s, which resulted in the death of 30 thousand people, and Azerbaijan is trying to regain control over it even by force, after the peace talks reached a conclusion. dead end years ago. .
There are regular clashes between the separatists and the Azeris, and these clashes in 2016 almost reached the level of war, and these clashes have been renewed this year.
What happened on Sunday?
A bloody fighting broke out between Azerbaijani forces and separatists in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, resulting in casualties between military and civilians, and according to the Armenian side, a woman and a child were killed, and no definitive statistics were provided on the number. of victims.
The Karabakh Defense Ministry announced that it inflicted heavy losses on the ranks of the Azerbaijani army and destroyed 4 helicopters, 15 drones and 10 tanks. “This morning, the Azerbaijani side launched an attack and we ask everyone to take cover,” he added.
For its part, Armenia said that one of its helicopters was shot down with no casualties on its crew, and also said it destroyed some 12 anti-aircraft batteries, and that it occupied villages controlled by Armenians, in the fighting along the front plan.
A spokesman for the Defense Ministry said: “We liberated 6 villages, 5 in the Fizuli area and one in the Jebrayel area.
Who started the attack?
The two sides blame the other for the escalation of tension, the Armenian separatists announced that Azerbaijan had launched an attack on Nagorno-Karabakh, while the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry announced that it had launched a counterattack through the front line, to put an end to Armenian armed activities.
“The Azerbaijani army is now fighting on its territory, defending its territorial integrity, inflicting devastating blows on the enemy,” the statement said. “Our cause is right and we will win,” said President Ilham Aliyev.
Later, the Azerbaijani authorities declared martial law in the country and a partial curfew in Baku and several major cities. As soon as the battles were announced on Sunday morning, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced the general mobilization and implementation of the Arab provisions.
“Let us firmly support our army and our country, long live the glorious Armenian army,” he said. “The despotic Azeri regime again declared war on the Armenian people.” He stressed that Baku and Yerevan are on the brink of a great war that could have unforeseen consequences.
Who supports whom?
The conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh has sparked regional tensions that have lasted for more than 30 years. Azerbaijan depends on the support of Turkey, as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sees Armenia as a threat to the stability of the Caucasus.
As for Armenia, it is weaker and closer to Russia, which has a military base, and Prevan is part of a Moscow-led military alliance.
As for the Kremlin, which establishes itself as a ruler in the region, it supplies arms to both sides, but for decades it has managed to curb the possibility of open warfare, and open mediation on this issue includes Russia, France, the United States and the Minsk Group.
What are international situations?
France expressed its deep concern over the clashes that took place in the region and called on the parties to cease hostilities and resume dialogue.
European Council President Charles Michel said: “Information on hostilities in the region is of grave concern. Military actions must be stopped urgently to avoid an escalation of violence and to return to negotiations without preconditions.”
The Turkish Defense Minister confirmed that his country will support Azerbaijan by all means and asked Armenia to stop the aggression, after the violent battles. “We will support the Azerbaijani brothers by all means in their fight to protect their territorial integrity,” said Hulusi Akar.
Moscow called for a ceasefire and talks.
This conflict between the two countries could lead to the intervention of major competing powers in the region, such as Turkey and Russia.
It was a meeting in which Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu participated, during which they agreed to a ceasefire.
