Armenia-Azerbaijan Clashes; Concerns Over Turkey’s Entry into Dispute

The danger of a full-scale war erupting between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh region has fueled international concerns. The number of casualties has increased. Armenia is reporting military intervention and presence of Turkey in this dispute.

Military confrontation between the two republics of Azerbaijan and Armenia continues. The number of casualties from mutual attacks is increasing. While many countries in the world have intensified their diplomatic efforts to end this confrontation, Turkey’s support for Azerbaijan has given this conflict more dangerous dimensions.

Ilham Aliyev, President of Azerbaijan, declared martial law in large parts of the country on Sunday evening, September 27 (Mehr 6), and banned nighttime traffic in those areas. Before him, Nikol Pashinyan, Prime Minister of Armenia, had declared martial law throughout the country.

The German news agency reported on Monday, September 28, with reports from Baku and Yerevan of the intensification of military confrontation between the two republics of Azerbaijan and Armenia. It is said that a large number of military forces of the two countries have been killed and wounded as a result of continued attacks.

Now the occurrence of a full-scale war between the two countries threatens the region. News agencies have reported the advance of Azerbaijani military forces in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region. The German news agency has even reported the capture of some villages by the Azerbaijani army.

Increase in Number of Casualties

Nikol Pashinyan, Prime Minister of Armenia, has described Azerbaijan’s attacks as a formal declaration of war against his country’s people.

The German news agency has described the recent dispute between the two countries in the Nagorno-Karabakh region as the most severe military confrontation between the two countries in the past few decades. According to official statistics provided, it is said that at least 16 soldiers were killed and more than 100 others were wounded during the recent bloody clashes. This is while some news sources have reported a higher number of casualties.

While Azerbaijan claims that five of its forces were killed and wounded during these clashes, Armenia has stated that the Azerbaijani army has so far suffered 200 casualties.

Based on information released by the International Committee of the Red Cross, some civilians have also been killed and wounded during these clashes. Accurate recording of the number of casualties is not possible under current conditions.

Military Intervention and Presence of Turkey

The Armenian government reported on Sunday evening of Turkey’s support and backing of Azerbaijan’s military forces. Armenia’s Ministry of Defense has stated that Azerbaijan’s military forces have used Turkish-made weapons in their attacks. It is even said that Turkish military drones have been used in these clashes.

Nikol Pashinyan, in this regard, had a telephone conversation with Emmanuel Macron, President of France, and asked the French President to prevent further Turkish intervention in the dispute between the two countries.

Turkey has not formally stated its position regarding claims of this country’s military presence in the dispute over the Nagorno-Karabakh region. This is while Erdoğan does not hide Turkey’s support for Ilham Aliyev.

Turkey’s military presence in the dispute over the mountainous Nagorno-Karabakh region could give this confrontation new dimensions and cause a full-scale war to escalate.

International Diplomatic Efforts

The European Union, Germany, and Russia have also called on the parties involved in this dispute to exercise restraint and asked them to end military confrontation and return to the negotiating table.

Heiko Maas, German Foreign Minister, has also emphasized that the Minsk Group of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, which is headed by representatives of three countries, France, Russia, and the United States, is ready to mediate.

Beyond that, the Islamic Republic of Iran, which has good relations with both countries, has also spoken of its readiness to mediate.

The Republic of Azerbaijan lost control of the mountainous Nagorno-Karabakh region after the collapse of the Soviet Union. After that, in 1994, a ceasefire was established between the newly formed republics of Azerbaijan and Armenia.

A ceasefire that has repeatedly shown its instability over the past years. During the latest military confrontation between the two countries in 2016, more than 120 people were killed.

Source: DW