Clashes in recent weeks in the Nagorno-Karabakh region have left four people dead on the Azerbaijani side, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry announced on Sunday (December 13th).
They are the first victims reported since the entry into force on November 10 of a ceasefire concluded under the aegis of Russia.
The end of the fighting allowed Azerbaijan to recover part of the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh after six weeks of conflict against the forces of this separatist region supported by Armenia.
> See also: Conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh: Fizouli, ghost town reconquered by Azerbaijan
The Armenian authorities for their part reported six wounded on their side in what they described as an Azerbaijani military offensive carried out on Saturday.
In Baku, the Azerbaijani government said the clashes took place in an area under its control as part of the ceasefire.
The military operation carried out on Friday and Saturday was aimed at annihilating or pushing back the enemy forces responsible for these deadly attacks on Azerbaijani troops, he added.
In Yerevan, authorities say Armenian forces have repelled attempted intrusions into territories believed to remain in separatist hands, specifically the villages of Hin Tagher and Khtsaberd.
"Ongoing negotiations"
"Azerbaijan's provocations continued today towards the villages of Mets Shen and Hin Shen in the Hadrut region," the Armenian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
The Armenian Ministry of Defense for its part indicated in a separate statement that "negotiations are underway between Armenian, Russian and Azerbaijani military to resolve the situation in Hadrut and ensure the return of the parties to their previous positions."
Russian forces deployed in the region to oversee the ceasefire did not report major clashes but did report a violation of the truce over the weekend.
The Armenian Foreign Ministry said Russian forces were not present in the area where the clashes occurred.
With Reuters
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