Update (1348 EST): The Russian Ministry of Defense has announced that Azerbaijan has violated the ceasefire brokered by the Russian Federation and must withdraw its forces immediately. The report said that Azerbaijan has “aggravated the situation” in the area of Sarybaba Heights.
The European Union also released this statement, calling for an end to hostilities:
The European Union calls for an immediate cessation of the hostilities which have broken out between Azerbaijani and Armenian forces around the Lachin corridor and other places along the Line of Contact. Regrettably, these clashes already led to loss of life and injuries.
It is essential to de-escalate, fully respect the ceasefire and return to the negotiating table to seek negotiated solutions.
The European Union remains committed to help overcome tensions and continue its engagement towards sustainable peace and stability in the South Caucasus.??
Renewed fighting has broken out between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces along the line of contact in the Nagorno Karabakh region.
While there have been intermittent clashes between the two sides since the 2020 Nagorno Karabakh war, the latest spat of fighting has been the most significant in recent months. Skirmishes have broken out near the key Lachin corridor, which is the only route connecting Armenia to areas in Nagorno Karabakh controlled by the ethnically Armenian Artsakh Republic.
VIDEO: Azerbaijani MoD footage of a drone strike targeting Armenian/NKR positions, following reports of fresh Azerbaijani attacks in violation of the Karabakh ceasefire agreement today.pic.twitter.com/ywM3T00oHL
— Conflict News (@Conflicts) August 3, 2022
Armenian and Artsakh officials have accused Azerbaijani forces of violating the line of contact and advancing on their positions. Azerbaijani officials have accused Armenian forces of firing first and have demanded that all Artsakh forces disarm and withdraw from the region. Meanwhile, Azerbaijani drone strikes have targeted Armenian/ Artsakh positions. The Artsakh Defense Army has reported that fighting has killed two of its soldiers and wounded over a dozen others. At least one Azerbaijani soldier has been killed.
In response to the fighting, President of the Artsakh Republic Arayik Harutyunyan signed a decree for partial military mobilization.
On November 10, 2020, a peace agreement went into effect to end the hostilities of the 44 day war. Under the agreement, areas captured by Azerbaijani forces would remain in their control, while the districts of Agdam, Kalbajar and Lachin would be handed over as well. The move to end the war and hand over territory saw major backlash amongst Armenians, who felt that the current administration was essentially giving up. Large portions of central Nagorno-Karabakh, including its regional capital of Stepanakert, would remain under control of the Republic of Artsakh, an ethnic Armenian breakaway state. The line of contact between the two sides, as well as the Lachin Corridor, would be overseen and maintained by a contingent of Russian peacekeepers. The sake of the ceasefire agreement was also to be enforced by the Russians. Since the end of the war, there have been numerous clashes between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces along lines of contact, as well as disputes over demarcation lines. Azerbaijani forces have been repeatedly accused of pushing the envelope in a sense by routinely making small incursions across the line of contact.
