Armenian Army Opens Fire at Civilians on Azerbaijan Border

Published July 14th, 2020 - 06:11 GMT
Azerbaijan on July 7, 2020, raised the spectre of a fresh war with arch-foe Armenia and denounced stalled peace talks over the disputed Nagorny Karabakh region. The two ex-Soviet republics have for decades been locked in a simmering conflict over the breakaway territory, which was at the heart of a bloody war in the 1990s. Vahan Stepanyan / PAN Photo / AFP
Azerbaijan on July 7, 2020, raised the spectre of a fresh war with arch-foe Armenia and denounced stalled peace talks over the disputed Nagorny Karabakh region. The two ex-Soviet republics have for decades been locked in a simmering conflict over the breakaway territory, which was at the heart of a bloody war in the 1990s. Vahan Stepanyan / PAN Photo / AFP
Highlights
Tensions heighten at border as Armenian side violates ceasefire.

Armenian troops opened fire on civilian settlements on the Azerbaijani border, Azerbaijan’s defense ministry said Monday.   

The troops fired on the villages of Agdam and Dondar Kuscu in Tovuz in the afternoon with 120-millimeter mortars and D-30 howitzers, the ministry said in a statement. 

Azerbaijan’s Foreign Affairs Ministry said Armenia revealed its "aggressive and terrorist face" once again. 

It stressed that Armenia violated all the basic principles of international law by bombing civilians. 

“The Armenian administration should not think that its actions will go unpunished. As in all occupation situations, the occupation of Azerbaijani lands is temporary, and Armenia will account for all illegal actions.” 

On Sunday, four Azerbaijani soldiers were martyred and three others were injured when Armenian forces violated a ceasefire and targeted positions of Azerbaijan's army in northwestern Tovuz district.  


Azerbaijani army launches counterattacks  

In response to Armenia's weekend attack, Azerbaijani army launched counterattacks Monday with cannon shots. 

The positions of the Armenian army, military radar station, vehicle depot, tanks and armored vehicles were hit, Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry said in a statement. 

More than 20 personnel from the Armenian army were killed in the attack, it added.

Georgia calls for peace

The Georgian Presidency called Monday for a peaceful resolution of the conflict on the Azerbaijan-Armenian border.

“Today, while we are all fighting against an invisible enemy [the COVID-19 outbreak], international solidarity and maintaining global stability are crucial,” it said in a statement.

Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili was saddened by the clashes on the border, it added.

Stressing the importance of peace and security in the region, the statement pointed out that the conflict between the two countries needs to be resolved through peaceful methods.

This article has been adapted from its original source.

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