Armenia and Azerbaijan are Engaged in Open Combat Over Contested Region

This past weekend, Armenia and Azerbaijan commenced a battle over a disputed separatist region, as two military helicopters were shot down and casualties occurred in the area.

The attacks between the two counties happened around the separatist region of Nagorno-Karabakh, known as a mainly ethnic Armenian region inside Azerbaijan which declared independence in 1991. Armenia blamed Azerbaijan for carrying out the attack, while officials in Baku claimed they were responding to the Armenian bombardment.

According to the Armenian Defense Ministry, an air and artillery attack on civilian settlements, including the regional capital of Stepanakert, started around 8:10 a.m. local time on Sunday. The attack provoked the Armenian troops’ response, resulting in three Azerbaijani tanks being destroyed and the shooting down of two helicopters and three drones.

Footage from the region showed tanks heading through Stepanakert as martial law was declared, while Azerbaijan accused Armenia of launching “deliberate and targeted” attacks along the front line prompting a counteroffensive.

At the same time, President Ilham Aliyev addressed the nation, saying that “there are losses among the Azerbaijani forces and the civilian population as a result of the Armenian bombardment.”

The deputy head of the Nagorno-Karabakh army Artur Sarkisian told the Associated Press that there were 16 people killed and more than 100 wounded. 

According to Azerbaijan’s defense ministry, an unspecified number of Azeri civilians had been killed and six wounded. 

The outbreak of fighting was harshly received in Turkey, and its ruling party spokesman Omer Celik tweeted that he would stand by Azerbaijan.

Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin also condemned Armenia on Twitter.

The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan also puts a NATO ally up against Russia. While Turkey stood behind Azerbaijan, Russia declared support to Armenia.