Escalation of armed conflict between Asia and Afghanistan: Armenia announces national mobilization and Azerbaijan enters wartime state
[Global Times reporter Cao Jieliu Zhi] A new round of conflict broke out in the Naka (Nagorno-Karabakh) region on the 27th between Azerbaijan and Armenia, resulting in hundreds of military and civilian casualties.
Both sides accused each other of violating the ceasefire agreement and took the lead in launching provocative actions.
The Prime Minister of Asia issued a statement saying that Azerbaijan "declared war" against the Armenian people.
Both countries declared a state of war.
According to the Russian "Viewpoint", President Aliyev said that the second army began shelling the Afghan army positions and settlements near the line of contact between the two sides in the Naka area on the morning of the 27th, causing civilian and military casualties.
The Armenian Ministry of National Defense stated that the area was attacked by the Albanian air and missiles.
Sputnik News Agency reported that the unrecognized "President of the Naka Republic" spokesman Pogosian stated that civilian settlements in Karabakh were shelled, including the "capital" Stepanakert.
He called on residents to hide, and later declared martial law in Karabakh and mobilized.
On the evening of the 27th, the Armenian Ministry of National Defense announced that 16 officers and soldiers were killed and more than 100 injured in the Naka conflict.
Armenian Prime Minister Pashnyan stated in his Facebook that Azerbaijan suffered heavy losses in the conflict. The runner-up shot down 4 Arab helicopters, about 15 drones, and destroyed 10 tanks and 1 infantry fighting vehicle.
The Azerbaijan News Agency quoted the Ministry of National Defense as saying that Armenia’s 12 air defense missile systems were destroyed in the battle, an Azerbaijan armed helicopter was shot down, and the crew survived.
The Russian Satellite News Agency reported on the evening of the 27th that the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry stated that some strategic highlands and 6 villages in Karabakh that were once under the control of the Armenian armed forces are now under the control of the Azerbaijani army.
The Karabakh local government denied the news.
According to a report from Agence France-Presse on the 27th, Pashnyan issued a statement stating that Armenia is on the verge of an all-out war in the Transcaucasus, which may have unpredictable consequences.
Armenia announced that it had entered a wartime state and carried out a national mobilization, mobilizing reserve officers and soldiers under the age of 55 to stand by at any time.
The President of Azerbaijan signed an order to enter a wartime state throughout the territory from the 28th, and implement martial law and curfews in the capital Baku and several other cities.
Both Russia and Western countries mediate between the two countries and call for an immediate ceasefire.
According to a report by the Russian News Agency on the 27th, the Kremlin stated that at the initiative of Asia, Russian President Putin and Prime Minister of Asia talked on the phone to discuss the sharp deterioration of the situation in the Naka region.
Russia expressed serious concern over the resumption of large-scale armed conflicts between Asia and Afghanistan, and emphasized that in order to prevent further escalation of the conflict, all necessary measures must be taken now, and most importantly, the two sides must cease hostilities.
Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov and the foreign ministers of Asia and Afghanistan respectively talked on the phone and demanded a ceasefire.
The European Commission calls on Yah and Azerbaijan to show restraint.
A spokesperson for the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement saying that Paris is deeply concerned about the large-scale clashes and casualties in Nacca and called on the two sides to immediately cease hostilities and resume dialogue.
German Foreign Minister Mas also stated that Yah-Ah must immediately cease hostilities, and the crisis in the Naka region must be resolved through peaceful diplomatic means.
NATO Secretary-General’s special envoy for the Caucasus and Central Asia, Apaturai, said that NATO is very worried about the outbreak of large-scale conflicts in the Naka region.
Both parties to the conflict should immediately cease military operations that have caused civilian casualties.
This conflict should not be resolved by force. The two parties should resume negotiations and resolve the dispute peacefully.
He also emphasized that NATO supports the efforts made by the OSCE Minsk Group.
Turkey expressed its support for Azerbaijan.
According to Turkish Anadolu News Agency and other media reports, Lavrov had a phone conversation with the Turkish Foreign Minister on the 27th to exchange views on the situation in Naqqa, emphasizing the need for a ceasefire as soon as possible and stabilizing the situation.
However, Turkish President Erdogan announced his support for the Arab side, accusing Armenia of being the greatest threat to regional peace and tranquility.
Turkish Defense Minister Akar accused the Asian side of intensifying the tension in Naqa, calling on the Asian side to stop its aggression against the Arab side, and said that in the struggle to maintain the territorial integrity of Afghanistan, Turkey will use all its capabilities and stand on the side of the "Brothers".
The Naka region is located in southwestern Azerbaijan, and its residents are mostly Armenians.
After the disintegration of the Soviet Union, Azerbaijan and Armenia broke out in a battle for Nagorny, and Armenia occupied Nagorny and its surrounding parts of Azerbaijan.
In 1994, Azerbaijan and Armenia reached an agreement on a comprehensive ceasefire, but the two countries have been in a state of hostility due to the Naka issue, and armed conflicts between the two countries have occurred from time to time.
Yaa had a conflict in July this year.
With the mediation of Russia and other countries, the conflict was eased.
According to a report on the 27th by the Russian "Viewpoint", Armenia’s Caucasus expert Iskandaryan said that the occurrence of this conflict is not unexpected, and the Arab side has a week to threaten it.
Azerbaijan launched the attack because the Azerbaijani side suffered heavy losses during the conflict in July, including the death of a general.
In addition, the new crown pneumonia epidemic in Azerbaijan is severe, and the government hopes to divert people’s dissatisfaction.
According to the Russian Satellite News Agency on the evening of the 27th, after the conflict broke out that day, the Prime Minister of Armenia considered the possibility of recognizing Karabakh’s independence.