BAKU: In a development fraught with escalating tensions, Azerbaijan (on Wednesday) has reaffirmed the ongoing success of its military operation in Nagorno-Karabakh, a region long disputed between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
The situation unfolded as the United States called for an immediate halt to hostilities, and Moscow urged both sides to end the bloodshed.
Azerbaijan’s offensive
Following months of mounting tensions in Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan launched a military campaign backed by artillery strikes in an effort to assert control over the breakaway region. The operation has been described as continuing successfully, with reports of weaponry and military equipment being destroyed.
Territorial dispute
Nagorno-Karabakh is recognized as Azerbaijani territory on the international stage, but separatist Armenian authorities govern a part of the region, claiming it as their ancestral homeland.
US and Russian diplomacy
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken engaged in discussions with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. Blinken urged Azerbaijan to cease military actions and de-escalate the situation, while also expressing Washington’s full support for Armenia. Azerbaijani President Aliyev indicated readiness to halt hostilities and hold talks with Nagorno-Karabakh representatives, but insisted that the operation would only cease once Armenian fighters surrendered.
International calls for ceasefire
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for an immediate end to the fighting, echoing condemnation from the European Union, France, and Germany over Azerbaijan’s military actions.
Complex geopolitical dynamics
The situation raises concerns about a broader conflict potentially involving Armenia. Russia, preoccupied with its war in Ukraine, seeks to maintain its influence in the South Caucasus, an area rich in oil and gas pipelines. Turkey, backing Azerbaijan, has been actively engaged in the region, altering the geopolitical balance.
Authorities in Karabakh reported casualties, including civilian deaths and injuries, as well as evacuations from affected villages.
Moscow called on both sides to halt the violence, emphasizing the need to return to the terms of the 2020 ceasefire agreement.
Relations between Russia and Armenia, traditionally close allies, have deteriorated recently due to Moscow’s perceived failure to fully uphold the 2020 ceasefire deal and other factors.
Azerbaijan asserted its goal as disarming and securing the withdrawal of Armenian armed forces from its territories while neutralizing their military infrastructure.
As the situation continues to evolve, the international community watches closely, fearing the potential for further conflict in a region of strategic importance.
