Azerbaijan begins ‘counterterrorist operation’ in Nagorno-Karabakh
Azerbaijan has started a “counterterrorist operation” in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh, the country’s Defence Ministry announced on Tuesday.
The ministry said that it was targeting “Armenian gun posts” in the breakaway region, adding that “the civilian population and infrastructure” were not under attack and that the Russian peacekeepers deployed in the region were informed.
14:00 GMT+3 The Armenian Defence Ministry issued a statement stressing that neither Armenian troops nor Armenian military equipment were present in Nagorno-Karabakh despite claims made by Azerbaijani officials and state media.
15:30 At least two ethnic Armenian residents of Nagorno-Karabakh, including a child, were killed in the Azerbaijani attack on Tuesday, according to Gegham Stepanyan, an ombudsperson for region’s Armenian population. A total of 11 people are known to have been injured so far, including eight children, he said.
18:30 The death toll has risen to five, the health ministry of the breakaway region reported. A total of 80 people were hospitalised.
Local Armenian Telegram channels reported that towns including the regional capital Stepanakert are being shelled. An air raid alert has been issued for the city.
Armenia’s Defence Ministry issued a brief statement, mentioning that the situation on the borders of Armenia proper was “relatively stable” as of 2 p.m. local time. The ministry has yet to provide a statement on the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh.
More details to follow
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