ISTANBUL – Azerbaijan has accused Armenia of targeting its military positions in the Lachin region overnight, escalating tensions between the two neighboring nations.
According to a statement from Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry, Armenian forces allegedly opened fire on Azerbaijani positions near the villages of Zabukh and Jaghazur late Sunday, between 10:00 PM and 10:10 PM local time (1800-1810 GMT). “In recent days, Armenia’s Armed Forces have repeatedly fired on our positions, and all incidents have been duly documented,” the ministry reported.
Armenia’s Defense Ministry, however, dismissed the accusations as unfounded, asserting that Baku’s claims “do not reflect reality.”
This marks the first such incident reported by Azerbaijan since September 2024, rekindling hostilities that have defined the relationship between the two countries for decades.
The roots of the conflict date back to 1991, when Armenia seized control of Karabakh—a region internationally acknowledged as part of Azerbaijan—along with seven surrounding districts, including Lachin. The majority of these areas were reclaimed by Azerbaijan during a 44-day war in 2020, which culminated in a Russian-brokered peace agreement.
In September 2023, Azerbaijan solidified its control over Karabakh following an “anti-terrorist operation,” leading to the surrender of separatist forces in the region. The incident overnight is a stark reminder that, despite ongoing normalization talks, the road to lasting peace between Baku and Yerevan remains fraught with tension and uncertainty.
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