At least 23 people were killed and over 100 people sustained injuries as violent clashes erupted between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces on Sunday. The two forces clashed over the disputed separatist region of Nagorno-Karabakh.
According to reports, 16 Armenian separatist fighters were killed and more than 100 were in the fighting. Both sides also reported civilian casualties.
Azerbaijan’s president, meanwhile, said that his military has suffered losses, but gave no details.
On the other hand, Armenia claimed that four Azerbaijani helicopters were shot down and 33 Azerbaijani tanks and fighting vehicles were hit by artillery.
The heavy fighting broke out in the morning in the region that lies within Azerbaijan but has been under the control of ethnic Armenian forces backed by Armenia since 1994 at the end of a separatist war.
It is still unknown what sparked the clashes, the heaviest since clashes in July killed 16 people from both sides.
Nagorno-Karabakh authorities reported that shelling hit the region’s capital of Stepanakert and the towns of Martakert and Martuni. Armenian Defense Ministry spokesman Artsrun Hovhannisyan also said Azerbaijani shelling hit within Armenian territory near the town of Vardenis.
Meanwhile, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev ordered martial law to
PM @NikolPashinyan: We’re united as always, as we have been in all crucial moments of our history, when enemy has threatened our #existence, our #identity & our #values. Dictatorial authorities of #Azerbaijan must know that it’s impossible to bring #Armenian ppl to their knees. pic.twitter.com/hHlNcYCgoB
— Armenia ???????? (@armenia) September 27, 2020
In a televised address to the nation, Aliyev said that there are losses among the Azerbaijani forces and the civilian population as a result of the Armenian bombardment, but didn’t give further details. He also claimed that many units of the enemy’s military equipment have been destroyed.
In the meantime, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian on Sunday said that the country could reexamine whether to recognize Nagorno-Karabakh as independent. Such a move would likely obstruct further negotiations.
France, Germany and the EU have urged an “immediate ceasefire” while Pope Francis prayed for peace. Russian President Vladimir Putin also discussed the military flareup with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and called for “an end to hostilities.”