Azerbaijan has accused Armenian forces of firing at its military positions in the western Lachin region late Sunday night and again on Monday afternoon. The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry reported that its positions near the villages of Zabukh and Jaghazur were targeted between 10 p.m. and 10:10 p.m. local time on Sunday, with another incident occurring around 2:10 p.m. local time on Monday. The ministry emphasized that these attacks were part of a pattern, citing previous similar incidents in recent days. However, Armenia’s Defense Ministry has denied the claims, labeling them as inaccurate.
These incidents mark the first reported clashes between the two nations since September 2024, highlighting the ongoing tension between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Relations between the two countries have been fraught since 1991, when Armenia’s military occupied the region of Karabakh, internationally recognized as Azerbaijani territory, along with several surrounding areas including Lachin. After a 44-day war in 2020, much of the territory was liberated by Azerbaijan, leading to a Russian-brokered ceasefire and a fragile peace process.
In September 2023, Azerbaijan asserted full sovereignty over Karabakh after a decisive military operation against separatist forces. While the region has now been reintegrated, tensions remain high as both sides continue to navigate the delicate path of normalization and border demarcation.
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