In the afternoon, the defense ministries of both countries issued statements saying that an unspecified number of soldiers from their armed forces were killed in a clash near the so-called “Lachin corridor”.
Since December, the road linking Armenia with Nagorno-Karabakh, the Latchin Corridor, has been blocked by Azerbaijani activists who say they are protesting illegal mining in the region. But Yerevan claims that the blockade was sanctioned by the Azerbaijani authorities and is causing an acute humanitarian crisis in the separatist regions, which are fed drip. Baku rejects these claims, saying emergency supplies may be entering the region and defending the protesters’ right to mobilize on legitimate environmental grounds.
These two South Caucasian countries – both former Soviet republics – have repeatedly fought each other over the past 35 years for control of the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave, which is recognized by the international community as part of Azerbaijan but is home to a majority Armenian population.
The Armenian Defense Ministry said in a statement that around 4:00 pm (local time, 3:00 pm Greek time), Azerbaijani armed forces opened fire on Armenian soldiers who were performing technical work near the village of Teh in the Syunik region of southern Armenia.
Teh is not in the disputed territory, but is the last village in Armenian territory on this main road connecting Armenia with Nagorno-Karabakh.
The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said that Azerbaijani soldiers were “fired on” by Armenian soldiers stationed in Syunik province.
Both sides reported casualties among their ranks, but gave no details.
The last confrontation between the two rivals was for control of the Lachin corridor.
OUR Russia sent thousands of peacekeepers to the region in 2020 as part of an agreement to end weeks of fighting that has killed thousands. Azerbaijan emerged victorious from this war with significant territorial gains. Moscow is an ally of Armenia under a mutual self-defense pact, but is trying to maintain good relations with Baku as well.
Source: APE-MPE-Reuters
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Source: Kathimerini
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