Destruction Mounts As Azerbaijan And Armenia Increase Hostilities

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Smoke rises in the aftermath of recent shelling during the ongoing fighting between Armenia and Azerbaijan on Sunday.

Karo Sahakyan/Armenian Government/AFP via Gett

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Karo Sahakyan/Armenian Government/AFP via Gett

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Violence Erupts Between Armenia And Azerbaijan Over Long-Disputed Region

The hostilities have to do with the disputed territory of the Nagorno-Karabakh, known locally as Artsakh, which the two former Soviet republics have competing claims to. The territory itself is closely allied with Armenia. The fighting has engaged allies in the region, including Turkey, which has pledged its unwavering support of Azerbaijan, which is ethnically Turkish.

Nagorno-Karabakh’s leader said his forces were responsible for the missiles. «As act of self-protection, in response to days long deliberate shelling with «prohibited cluster munitions … I ordered to bombard Ganja military facilities, Arayik Harutyunyan said on Twitter.

Harutyunyan said he had later given an order to stand down, «to avoid loss among civilians. But he promised a «commensurate response against military targets should Azerbaijan continue its aggression.

I talked to people in Ganja. Residents of Ganja are more than strong. Such irresponsible missile attack with cluster munitions from Armenia can in no way intimidate them. pic.twitter.com/CBwaHKueLB

— Hikmet Hajiyev (@HikmetHajiyev) October 4, 2020

The latest fighting, which broke out one week ago, is the most sustained and serious violence the region has seen in years, and has involved heavy artillery, tanks and missiles. The BBC reports more than 100 confirmed deaths between civilians and combatants on the Armenian side. Azerbaijan hasn’t released details on military casualties, but said that 24 civilians have been killed and over 100 wounded.

«We don’t know exactly what caused this recent flare-up, NPR international correspondent Lucian Kim told Morning Edition shortly after fighting began. «Both sides are blaming each other, but Azerbaijan has vowed to take back Nagorno-Karabakh. And this time, it’s getting the support from Turkey.

On Thursday, Armenia’s military said it had shot down four Azerbaijani drones near the Armenian capital of Yerevan. Last week, Turkey denied that its aircraft or drones were being used against Armenia. But Armenian officials said that Turkish military advisors were directing the operation from the ground. According to the BBC, Turkish military drones are being used in the conflict.

On Friday, the International Committee of the Red Cross warned that civilians were being killed on both sides of the conflict.

«People have been in touch with the ICRC who are terrified for themselves and their families and at a loss as to where to go or what to do to stay safe, said ICRC’s Eurasia regional director Martin Schüepp. «They are caught in the crossfire and deeply fearful for their safety and future.