Azerbaijan and Armenia fought a war in 1988-94 over the territory. Armenia backs the self-declared republic but has never officially recognised it. The US, France and Russia jointly condemned the fighting in Nagorno-Karabakh, in the southern Caucasus.
Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry stated that the Armenian forces have begun shelling in town of Tartar damaging infrastructure & wounding people. Years of negotiations have never resulted in a peace treaty. Intense fighting has continued on the ground for a fifth day, despite mounting international concern.
Heavy shelling continued on Thursday, and both sides claimed to have inflicted damage. Azerbaijan’s Defence Ministry said it had carried out ‘crushing artillery strikes against Armenian forces positions’ throughout the night. Meanwhile, officials in Nagorno-Karabakh said the situation there was “tense” and fire had been exchanged.
“The enemy attempted to regroup its troops, but Armenian forces suppressed all such attempts,” they said in a statement. AFP reported that piles of rubbish and shattered glass could be seen in the town of Martuni, about 20 km (15 miles) from the front line.A 54-year-old living in the town sheltered in his cellar for protection. He told BBC, “I built this house with my own hands. I will not go anywhere, that’s that.”
At least 100 people have reportedly been killed with hundreds wounded in the latest flare-up.In the early hours of Friday morning local time the Armenian government said it had shot down several Azerbaijani drones, including one that was “very close” to the capital, Yerevan.
Azerbaijan published video of what it said was the destruction of two “enemy” tanks and reported that an Armenian battalion had fled the area around the village of Tonashen. Armenian media said three civilians had been killed in an Azerbaijani air attack on the town of Martakert on Wednesday. State news agency, Armenpress said seven civilians and 80 service personnel had been killed since the fighting began.Armenia’s defence ministry also released a picture of an Armenian SU-25 jet it said had been shot down by a Turkish F-16 on Tuesday. Turkey has rejected the allegation as “cheap propaganda”.