Why the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict is flaring up again | DW News

Fighting between Armenia and Azerbaijan flared up again on Monday night, with both sides reporting intense artillery shelling. At around midnight, Azerbaijani forces shelled Armenian troops at three locations along the border. Azerbaijan said it was responding to a buildup of Armenian landmines and weapons near the border. Armenia fired back in retaliation.

The fighting took place near the Nagorno-Karabakh region, an area within Azerbaijan where ethnic Armenian separatists declared a breakaway republic — later known as Artsakh — in 1991. At a press briefing early on Tuesday, Armenian defense spokesperson Aram Torosyan said the situation remains "extremely tense" as fighting continues. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan later told parliament that "For the moment, we have 49 [troops] killed and unfortunately it's not the final figure."

Armenia, Azerbaijan trade blame for violence
Both countries claimed to have launched proportionate responses against what they saw as provocations from the other side. "At 00:05 a.m. [local time] on Tuesday, Azerbaijan launched intensive shelling, with artillery and large-caliber firearms, against Armenian military positions in the direction of the cities of Goris, Sotk, and Jermuk," Armenia's defense ministry said.
However, Azerbaijan accused Armenian forces of carrying out "large-scale subversive acts" earlier on Monday night near the border districts of Dashkesan, Kelbajar and Lachin by placing landmines and mobilizing weapons. "The countermeasures taken by the Azerbaijani military in response to the provocation by the Armenian military are local and directed against legitimate military objects that serve as firing points," Azerbaijan's defense ministry added. Armenian forces said they subsequently launched a "proportionate" response. The Azerbaijani defense ministry said its troops came under "intense shelling from weapons of various caliber, including mortars, by units of the Armenian army." Both sides acknowledged troop casualties but did not confirm numbers.

Long-running feud over Nagorno-Karabakh
The ethnically Armenian enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh was the site of two wars between Azerbaijan and Armenia in recent decades. The territory was controlled by Armenian separatists for almost 30 years until Azerbaijan regained control of most of the territory after a six-week war in 2020 and a ceasefire agreement brokered by Russia. Last week, Armenia accused Azerbaijan of killing one of its soldiers in a border shootout, while Azerbaijan has also accused Armenia of firing at its troops in recent months.

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[kalyka]

It may be possible that since Russia is in a difficult position, Azerbaijan is attacking Armenia which has just Russia as an ally

[IncogNidos]

Why this woman saying that Armenia lost territories to Azerbaijan? Nagorno Carabah is internationally recognized territories of Azerbaijan!! Why dw news allows such biased reaction of situation.

[alik]

I somehow get the feeling that Maria Titizian is pro-Armenian biased.

[bernicejenkins]

Didn’t Armenia occupy territories of Azerbaijan outside of Nagorno-Karabakh for 30 years? I believe it was 7 large regions. Why is it now that they realize that occupation of a foreign land is a bad thing?

[elitepredator]

Honestly 2022 starts to be worse year than 2020 and 21

[hardcore]

Would’ve been nice to hear the azerbaijani side, not only armenian

[MrWhitmen]

Haha Russia is so weak that Azerbaijan knows it can get away with it. Ukraine is holding everything up.

[sayyedsamedow]

I am from Azerbaycan, this conflict started after breakup of USSR. Soviets made very bad borders and we have international law on our side when Armenia attacked in 90s. But now I fear there are units on both sides that want to fuel conflict for wider agenda. Shelling Armenian land not in Karabakh is dangerous for everyone.

[ibadbayramov]

Shame on you DW news! How could you bring on someone from Armenia and expect her to be unbiased! This is not how the reporting is done. Very poor!

[sahip]

@DW, Hearing the story just from one side of the conflict is a bias. I wish you give a chance to talk for both side.

[OrkhanHuseynli]

Could not ask anyone from Baku to join the discussion?

[Soundcloud]

This is absolutely biased, one sided report. Such an unprofessional approach to the conflict Adding to that the deliberate lie of the Armenian representative who shamelessly denied inclusion of Zangazur corridor provision on the peace treaty, makes this report a parody to the news.
The new low standard of the DW reports has been set from now.

[patzan]

She’s biased. She claims Azerbaijan took Armenian territory in 2020. That’s false. Azerbaijan recovered its territory that was occupied by Armenia for 26 years.

[nargizibrahimova]

Listening to lies has always been a funny stuff 😂

[intiqamismayll]

@DW News, How fair do you think a one-sided approach to the issue is?

[samirsuleymanov]

Karabakh is not ethnic armenian region. Because during 1st Karabakh war all Azerbaijanis were expelled from Karabakh and Armenia, no Azerbaijanis left there, but will be moved soon. Karabakh is the territory of Azerbaijan and armenians were moved to Karabakh only starting from late 1800s from Iran mainly.

[WuHeDo]

I hope and wish for the war to end soon, and that no more innocent people get hurt.

[australiaprisonisland]

Where's the Azerbaijani perspective DW?

[haluk]

Shame on you DW News! And you call this journalism? Directing your camera only to one side and not even wondering what the other side might say on this issue?

[spencersholden]

Does anyone know why Azerbaijan and Armenia have such a weird border.