Armenia, Azerbaijan trade accusations over deadly cross-border violence
- 1 September, 04:09
Armenia and Azerbaijan have accused each other of a cross-border violence and concentration of military forces on the border. The Armenian Defence Ministry said on Friday that four of its soldiers were killed during what it described as an Azerbaijani provocation. The ministry accused Azerbaijan of opening intense fire in the direction of the Armenian positions located in the areas of Sotk and Norabak villages of Armenia’s Gegharkunik Province. The ministry said Azerbaijani armed forces were concentrating additional resources in the Sotk village sector of Armenia’s Gegharkunik Province.
The Azerbaijani Defence Ministry in turn, accused Armenia of launching a kamikaze drone attack in the territory of Kalbajar region. The ministry said three Azerbaijani soldiers were injured as a result of the Armenian attacks, adding that Yerevan bears full responsibility for the cross-border violence.
The cross-border violence occurred amid the deepening political and humanitarian crisis in the region. Armenia has accused Azerbaijan of blocking the Lachin corridor – the only road connecting Nagorno-Karabkah to the outer world – in the past few months and thus creating a humanitarian crisis. Baku denies such claims.
