Conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan is reborn: Could it be the start of the Third World War?
The United Nations Security Council was concerned about the escalation of the conflict and urged an immediate end to hostilities and to resume dialogue
In the early hours of Sunday, September 27, Armenia and Azerbaijan woke up at war again, after confirming a series of bombings along the line of contact in the Nagorno-Karabakh region. This is a situation in which both countries blamed each other for the escalation of the conflict.
Armenia and the unrecognized Nagorno Karabakh Republic declared a state of war and began the general mobilization. Hours later, martial law was enacted in some regions of Azerbaijan.
Battles were fought with the use of artillery, tanks, and aircraft. Until now, there have been numerous casualties among the troops and among the civilian population on both sides of the border, reported Actualidad RT.
In the midst of the conflict, Turkey reported that it supports Azerbaijan’s actions. Meanwhile, Russia called for a peaceful solution to the conflict, a position similar to those assumed by the Collective Security Treaty Organization, the Council of Europe and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
The bone of contention between Armenia and Azerbaijan is the Nagorno Karabakh region. Historically populated by Armenians, during the time of the Soviet Union, this territory was administratively subject to Azerbaijan under the name of “Nagorno Karabakh Autonomous Province” and enjoyed a certain level of autonomy.
At the end of the 1980s, the relations of Armenians with Azerbaijanis worsened until there were clashes between the two ethnic groups.
Background to the conflict
When Azerbaijan announced its independence in 1991, the province — which in 1989 had 189,000 inhabitants, 77% Armenians — also declared itself independent.
With the escalation of hostilities between 1992 and 1994, the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh — supported by Armenia and volunteers from other countries — managed to counter the Azerbaijani offensive. It even annexed several neighboring districts, ensuring a common border with Armenia.
In 1994 the war ended with the signing of ceasefire agreements. To control the truce, the so-called Minsk Group was created, subordinate to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and chaired by Russia, France and the United States.
Since then, the truce has been violated numerous times. The last most notable confrontations were in April 2016 and July this year.
As for the hostilities unleashed this week, both countries agree that the clashes began in the early morning. However, the two parties disagree on its exact cause.
From the capital of Azerbaijan, Baku, they claim that the first blow was delivered by the Armenian Army. According to them, at 06:00 local time they attacked Azerbaijani military positions and towns with “large caliber weapons, mortars and artillery”.
In response to the attack, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces launched a counteroffensive “across the front line”, an official statement reported.
For its part, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan declared Azerbaijan attacked first. It claims that the Azerbaijani military used multiple rocket and aircraft launch systems.
The war
The Armenian Defense Ministry notes that Azerbaijan bombed targets along the line of contact in Nagorno, Karabakh; and in the capital of the region, Stepanakert. They also accuse Baku of planning the operation in advance.
“Minutes after the official announcement of the escalation, the Azerbaijani and Turkish media reported from the front. This indicates that the Azerbaijan provocation was planned in advance”, wrote Armenian defense spokesperson Shushan Stepanyan on his Facebook page.
From the beginning, considerable losses were reported by both parties in weapons as well as in troops. Thus, in the early morning, Azerbaijan claimed that they had destroyed 12 units of air defense systems of the Armenian forces. They also acknowledged having lost a helicopter, whose crew managed to save themselves.
Meanwhile, the Armenian Ministry of Defense stated that its forces shot down two Azerbaijani helicopters and three drones. Later, they pointed out that their troops were preventing the enemy’s advance and had already destroyed four helicopters, 15 drones and 10 tanks.
In turn, Azerbaijani Defense Minister Zakir Hasanov announced that his forces overwhelmed the Armenian defense line and seized seven towns close to the contact line. Stepanián described these statements as “not consistent with reality” and “one more informational provocation of the Azerbaijani propaganda machine”.
For his part, the Deputy Minister of Defense of Nagorno Karabakh pointed out that, around 6:00 p.m. local time, the Armenian side had suffered 16 casualties and more than 100 injured. Although, they had managed to shoot down 20 drones and 30 Azerbaijani tanks, said the military.
On Sunday, Nagorno Karabakh and Armenia announced the state of war and general mobilization. As for Azerbaijan, its authorities pointed out that it does not currently need a mobilization, since its Armed Forces have sufficient personnel. However, during the afternoon a state of war was declared in various regions of Azerbaijan.
Regarding the civilian victims, the ombudsman of Nagorno Karabakh, Artak Beglarián, declared around noon that a woman and a child were killed and two people were injured.
In turn, Vagram Poghosián, spokesman for the president of Nagorno Karabakh, Arayik Harutyunyan, told local media that “dozens” of people were injured. Azerbaijan reported the hospitalization of 19 civilians.
International reactions
In the early hours, the Russian Foreign Ministry called on Armenia and Azerbaijan to refrain from military action.
Later, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had a telephone conversation with his Armenian counterpart, Zohrab Mnatsakanyan. In it, he “expressed serious concern about the ongoing large-scale hostilities” and called for a ceasefire.
Lavrov also announced Moscow’s readiness to undertake “mediation efforts” to stabilize the situation in Nagorno Karabakh.
For its part, Turkey expressed its support for Azerbaijan and accused Armenia of initiating the conflict.
“We strongly condemn the Armenian attack. It is a clear violation of international law and caused civilian casualties”, said the Turkish Foreign Ministry in a statement quoted by Anadolu. He also announced that he will support Azerbaijan “by all means” possible.
Another neighbor of the two states involved in the conflict, the Islamic Republic of Iran, called for an end to hostilities “without delay”.
“Iran is closely following the conflict with concern and we call for its immediate end and the start of talks between the two countries. […] Tehran is ready to use all its capabilities to help these talks”, Reuters quotes a statement from the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman.
NATO also came out in favor of ending the conflict. “NATO is deeply concerned by reports of large-scale hostilities along the line of contact in the conflict zone in Nagorno Karabakh. The parties must immediately cease hostilities, which have already caused civilian casualties”, said the alliance.
On the other hand, the United Nations Security Council was concerned about the escalation of the conflict and urged an immediate end to hostilities and to resume dialogue.
“Members of the Security Council expressed concern at reports of large-scale fighting along the line of contact in the conflict zone. They also condemned in the strongest terms the use of force and lamented the death of people”, says the statement issued after a meeting of the organization.
