The Armenian Defense Ministry claimed that Azerbaijan’s armed forces carried out artillery strikes on Armenian border towns on Tuesday morning. According to the Armenian Defense Ministry, the attack involved large-caliber drones and firearms fired towards Goris, Sotk and Jermuk.
The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry responded with a statement acknowledging the strikes, but said the strikes are “small-scale” and “aimed at ensuring the security of Azerbaijan’s borders”.
On Monday, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry accused Armenian troops of firing small arms toward the Novoivanovka settlements in the Gadabay region and the Husulu settlement in the Lachin region, near the two countries’ borders. Armenia denied the charges.
The turmoil in the region dates back decades and dates back to the collapse of the Soviet Union, when the region, backed by Armenia, declared its independence from Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan has long claimed it will retake the area, which is internationally recognized as Azerbaijani.
Russia, an Armenian security ally, maintains a peacekeeping force in the region after it concluded a ceasefire in early November 2020, ending a nearly two-month conflict that left at least 6,500 people dead, according to Reuters.
On Monday evening, the US called for an “immediate cessation of hostilities,” according to a statement from the office of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
“The United States is deeply concerned about reports of attacks along the Armenia-Azerbaijan border, including reported attacks on settlements and civilian infrastructure in Armenia,” Blinken said. “As we have long made clear, there can be no military solution to the conflict. We urge an immediate cessation of all military hostilities.”