Armenia has used large-caliber heavy weapons in order to escalate the situation on the frontline between Armenian and Azerbaijani troops, the country’s Defense Ministry said in a message Jan. 16.
Starting Jan. 15 evening, Armenia’s armed units began shelling the positions of the Azerbaijani army using 60, 82 and 120mm mortars, the defense ministry said.
No causalities were reported among the Azerbaijani armed forces.
In order to prevent the enemy’s activity, the Azerbaijani army took adequate response measures, said the defense ministry.
Armenia’s military and political leadership bears full responsibility for the aggravated situation, the Azerbaijani defense ministry warned, noting that the Azerbaijani armed forces fully control the operational situation on the frontline.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.
Armenia escalates situation on frontline - Azerbaijani MoD
16 January 2017
Read: 1367
