Fierce fighting between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces continues to rage in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region, with each side claiming an upper hand.The mountainous area is internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan but is run by ethnic Armenians.The separatist authorities there said 31 of their soldiers had now died, and some lost positions had been retaken.Azerbaijan said its forces inflicted “heavy losses” and that Armenian shelling had injured 26 civilians.Both Armenia and Azerbaijan have already declared general mobilisation and martial law in some areas.
The fighting is the heaviest seen in the long-running conflict since 2016, when at least 200 people were killed in clashes.It has sparked international calls for diplomacy, amid fears that regional powers could be drawn into the conflict in the strategically important Caucasus region.Turkey has already declared its support for Azerbaijan, while Russia – which has military bases in Armenia – called for an immediate ceasefire.Armenia accuses Turkey of providing direct military support for Azerbaijan, a claim denied by Azerbaijan.
The territorial dispute over Nagorno-Karabakh is one of the world’s oldest conflicts.
When Nagorno-Karabakh broke away from Azerbaijan in the early 1990s, tens of thousands died in fighting, and many ethnic Azerbaijanis were forced to flee their homes.It is now a de facto independent region, relying heavily on support from Armenia. But it is not recognised by any UN member, including Armenia.