Nagorno-Karabakh: Azerbaijan says it is launching a military operation in the disputed region, Yerevan condemns the desire to “draw Armenia into hostilities”.

Azerbaijan announced on Tuesday, September 19, that it had launched a military operation“anti-terrorist”, Aims “Armenian Forces” in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh. An Agence France-Presse journalist heard the explosions in Stephanakert, the capital of Nagorno-Karabakh.

“ Anti-terrorist operations have started in the region. Positions of the Armenian Armed Forces within the framework of these measures (…) They pose a threat on the front line and in depth using high-precision weapons.”– said in the statement of the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan.

The separatist government of Armenia confirmed A “A large-scale military operation against the Republic of Artsakh [le nom donné par les Arméniens au Haut-Karabakh] “. The target is Stefanakert and other cities of the region “intense shooting”“, added the representative of the separatists in Armenia on Facebook.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced that Azerbaijan has launched an armed ground operation and is looking for Involvement of Armenia in hostilitiesHowever, the guarantee that the Armenian army did not join the battle.

Azerbaijan has launched a ground operation to ethnically cleanse the Armenians of Karabakh.– Mr. Pashinian clarified in his television statement and assured that the situation on the border was the same. “stable” And that Armenia was not “does not participate in armed actions”.

The separatist forces of Nagorno-Karabakh, on the other hand, tried “Resistance” Azerbaijan’s army, which is trying to advance “in depth” in the enclave. “The armed forces of Azerbaijan are trying to advance in depth (…) Defense forces continue to resist Azerbaijan’s offensive along the entire line of contact »They reported on X (formerly Twitter).

“false statements”

The Baku authorities added that peace is possible on the condition that the Armenians withdraw “all”. The only way to achieve peace and stability in the region is the unconditional and complete withdrawal of the Armenian armed forces from the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan and the so-called Collapse of the regime. It is said in the statement of the separatist Azerbaijani diplomacy. Ministry of Defense of Armenia convincedOn the other hand, he condemns the absence of armed forces in the region “false statements” from Baku.

The authorities of Azerbaijan announced the establishment of humanitarian corridors for civilians in Nagorno-Karabakh. “In order to evacuate the population from the dangerous zone, humanitarian corridors and reception points were organized on the Lachine road and in other directions.“- said in the statement released by the Ministry of Defense.

Russia called Azerbaijan and Armenia “Let the bloodshed end” to Nagorno-Karabakh and back “peaceful settlement”. “All stages of a peaceful solution are determined by the agreements signed in 2020 and 2022.– added Maria Zakharova, representative of Russian diplomacy.

Hours earlier, Azerbaijani authorities announced the deaths of four policemen and two Azerbaijani civilians in a landmine explosion in Nagorno-Karabakh, blaming the group. “Saboteurs” Armenian separatists for committing these actions “terrorism”.

Four policemen and two civilians were killed as a result of the mine explosion

The six people were killed when their car exploded on a landmine on the road between Shusha (Shush, for Armenians) and Fizul, two towns in Nagorno-Karabakh under Azerbaijani control, Azerbaijani security services said. They said the police officers were killed at around 04:30 (2:30 a.m. Paris) in a tunnel in the Khojavendi district as they were on their way to the site of an anti-tank mine explosion that hit a car. of two civilians in the same territory. The two dead civilians are employees of the Azerbaijan Highway Agency, the security services said.

These new deadly incidents come as a step toward easing tensions in Nagorno-Karabakh, which has recently been fueled by the influx of humanitarian aid into the separatist region.

“Deteriorating humanitarian situation”

At the beginning of August, Armenia called an emergency session of the Security Council of the United Nations “Deteriorating humanitarian situation” in the region. The Lachin Corridor, the only land link between Armenia and Karabakh, was first blocked by Azerbaijanis representing environmental protesters before Baku mounted a security roadblock at the entrance to the road on July 11.

At the UN Security Council meeting on August 16, France, Great Britain and the United States called on Baku to ensure free movement on the Lachine road, but no announcement or resolution was made. At the end of the meeting, they voted – half. – The defeat of the Armenians.

Nagorno-Karabakh, the mountainous region where the Armenian majority is located in Azerbaijan, was the scene of two wars in the early 1990s, then in the fall of 2020. It is one of the most mined areas in the former USSR. Explosions there regularly cause casualties.