[ad_1]
Armenia accuses Azerbaijan of targeting civilian settlements in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh border region, also in the central city of Stepanakert region, Reuters reports.
The Armenian Defense Ministry claims they shot down two Azerbaijani helicopters and three drones later.
“Our response will be proportionate, and the political-military leadership in Azerbaijan bears full responsibility for the situation,” Defense Minister Nikol Pashinyan said in a statement.
The government of Azerbaijan has promised its people victory over the Armenian forces. At the same time, the Armenian government is urging its citizens to prepare to “defend their homeland,” according to AFP.
The two former Soviet states have long been in conflict over the Nagorno-Karabakh region, which is located in Azerbaijan, but has a majority Armenian population. In July, 16 people died in the region and the two countries accused each other of having escalated the conflict again.
Russia calls on both parties for an immediate ceasefire.
