7 killed in today's Nagorno-Karabkh clashes - reports

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
11 Apr 2023 23:53

The two countries' defense ministries exchanged accusations of who initiated the shooting.

Armenian soldiers standing in a trench near Nagorno-Karabakh's town of Martuni, April 8, 2016 (Reuters)

At least seven troops were killed during today's border clashes near the Lachin corridor which connects Armenia to the Nagorno-Karabkh enclave.

Armenia and Azerbaijan's defense ministries exchanged accusations of who initiated the shooting.

The heavy clashes reportedly started at 4:00 pm and lasted until 7:00 pm when they started dissipating.

The Armenian defense ministry reported that the Azeri forces started firing at Armenian engineer troops carrying out technical work which entailed reciprocation from the Armenian side.

"As a result of the Azerbaijani provocation, the Armenian side has 4 killed in action and 6 wounded. The Azerbaijani side has many killed and wounded. As of 8:30 p.m., the situation on the frontline is relatively stable," the ministry said.

BREAKING: Azerbaijan is attacking the village of Tegh, in Syunik. The shoutout near the village lasted about 20 minutes, there are dead and wounded being reported.

The Armenian Defense Ministry confirmed the information. pic.twitter.com/naYIZ0TdFi
— 301🇦🇲 (@301arm) April 11, 2023

Correspondingly, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense accused the latter of initiating armed provocations which resulted in the death of three Azeri soldiers.

"Azerbaijan army's servicemen Zalov Vidadi Nizami, Hasanov Elshad Gabil and Taghiyev Sabuhi Gunduz became Shehids (Martyrs) during the suppression of the Armenian provocation," the statement read, adding Azeri forces "completely control the operational situation."

Over the past 30 years, Armenia and Azerbaijan have fought two wars.

Back in 2020, war broke out between the two Caucasian countries over the disputed territory of Nagorno Karabakh. Six weeks of violence in the autumn of 2020 claimed over 6,500 lives and ended with a ceasefire accord sponsored by Russia. Russia sent 2,000 peacekeepers to monitor the truce, but tensions remained despite a ceasefire deal. In 2022, the clashes resumed. Each party accused the other of shelling the other.

In March 2023, Armenia's Foreign Ministry accused Baku of preparing an escalation against Armenia via the use of an "aggressive rhetoric" aimed at undermining existing agreements between both countries.