Armenia: Heavy fighting in Nagorno-Karabakh, helicopter hit

[inanna]

Source: Associated Press

Apr. 2, 2016 2:50 AM ET

YEREVAN, Armenia (AP) — The Armenian Defense Ministry says heavy fighting has broken out with Azerbaijani forces in Nagorno-Karabakh, a section of Azerbaijan that is under the control of local ethnic Armenian forces and the Armenian military.

Ministry spokesman Artsrun Hovhannisyan told The Associated Press on Saturday that the fighting was taking place along the entire "line of control" that separates Nagorno-Karabakh from the rest of Azerbaijan. In a separate posting on Facebook, he said there were losses on both sides and that an Azerbaijani helicopter was hit.

There was no immediate comment from Azerbaijan authorities.

Nagorno-Karabakh has been controlled by Armenia's military and local forces since a war ended in 1994. Years of negotiations under the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe have brought little progress in resolving the dispute.


Read more: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2016-04-02-EU--Armenia-Azerbaijan/id-3d4f062847214a7c8933b0697e2b28a2

[billhicks76]

1. Armenia Needs US Support

[PersonNumber503602]

11. Why? Why them and not the others? Why should the US support either side?

[billhicks76]

14. Do Your Research

They are blockaded on both sides. Turkey and Azer have been messing with them forever. They are a peace loving country and the victim of genocide and oppression.

[PersonNumber503602]

15. Both sides make similar arguments about themselves and their opponents

Both sides seem to think they are right, and there seems to be evidence that neither side is comprised of benevolent peace lovers. Sounds like a regional issue that the US needs to stay out of.

[bemildred]

12. Armenia will have Russian support.

One should not assume Armenia is reluctant in this fight.

[bemildred]

2. Can't have these islands of peace is a sea of war. nt

[KG]

3. Places That Don t Exist; Nagorno Karabakh Azerbaijan

[Wilms]

4. Thanks for the link, KG! n/t

[mahina]

13. Fascinating

Thank you

[bemildred]

5. Defense Ministry: Azerbaijani armed forces freed several strategic heights and settlements from the

“On the night of April 1-2 and throughout the day, Azerbaijani positions and residential areas came under intensive fire from the Armenian positions. This led to the killing and wounding of civilians,” the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said in a statement. “The command of the Armed Forces decided to take retaliatory measures in the direction of Aghdere-Terter-Aghdam and Khojavand-Fuzuli to prevent these provocations and ensure security of civilians.”

“Heights around the Talish village capable of posing threat to Goranboy district and Naftalan city as well as Seysulan settlement have been completely cleared from the enemy forces,” said the Ministry.

“In order to protect the town of Horadiz from the enemy, the Azerbaijani armed forces also took control of strategic Lele Tepe height, which is located in the direction of Fuzuli district and overlooks a vast area.”

“Necessary measures have been taken to strengthen those heights and a new defense line, new trenches are being dug there, and the positions are being fortified,” said the Ministry.

http://azertag.az/en/xeber/Defense_Ministry_Azerbaijani_armed_forces_freed_several_strategic_heights_and_settlements_from_the_enemy-939504

[bemildred]

6. Dozens Of Casualties Reported As Fighting Erupts In Armenia-Azerbaijan Region

BAKU/YEREVAN, April 2 (Reuters) - A new wave of fighting broke out in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region on Saturday, killing at least a dozen servicemen and drawing international calls for an immediate ceasefire to stop violence spreading in the South Caucasus.

Nagorno-Karabakh, which lies inside Azerbaijan but is controlled by ethnic Armenians, has run its own affairs with heavy military and financial backing from Armenia since a separatist war ended in 1994.

The Azeri defense ministry said on Saturday the army had "liberated strategic heights and settlements" in the region.

"Six Armenian tanks were destroyed (and) more than 100 Armenian servicemen were killed and injured," it said in a statement, saying 12 Azeri servicemen had also been killed.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/putin-ceasefire-armenia-azerbaijan_us_56ffd37ce4b0a06d5805d9d3

[bemildred]

7. Azerbaijani armed forces suffer more than 200 losses in manpower in today's fighting

YEREVAN, April 2. /ARKA/ Azerbaijani armed forces suffered more than 200 losses in manpower in today's fighting along the line of contact, Nagorno-Karabakh Defense Ministry said in a statement.

"The situation along the entire length of the line of contact between Karabakh and Azerbaijani troops remains extremely tense with advanced units of Karabakh Defense Army successfully conducting defensive fights, inflicting heavy losses to the enemy," according to the statement.

It said in the direction of Talysh Karabakh troops destroyed a 30-member Azerbaijani special squad. 'In the direction of Martakert we destroyed two tanks, two drones and one helicopter,' it said. According to the ministry, the most severe clashes are happening on the south-eastern direction of the contact line.

"The enemy used armored vehicles and missile weapons, including Grad missiles, to shell not only the positions of the defense army, but also civilian targets, including villages in the rear."

http://arka.am/en/news/politics/azerbaijani_armed_forces_suffer_more_than_200_losses_in_manpower_in_today_s_fighting/

[inanna]

8. Thanks for the updates!

[bemildred]

9. Take them all with a grain or two of salt.

Salt is good for you

[Eugene]

10. Azerbaijan declares unilateral ceasefire amid Nagorno-Karabakh violence

Source: CNN

Azerbaijan declares unilateral ceasefire amid Nagorno-Karabakh violence

By Greg Botelho, Gul Tuysuz and Joshua Berlinger, CNN
Updated 1309 GMT (2009 HKT) April 3, 2016 | Video Source: CNN

(CNN) - Azerbaijan says it is laying down its weapons in its recent conflict with Armenia, according to state media, a day after 30 soldiers from both sides were killed.

"In the light of persistent calls from international organizations and given the fact that the government of Azerbaijan is pursuing a peaceful policy, the Azerbaijani armed forces took a unilateral decision to stop counter-attacks and retaliatory action against the enemy in the occupied territories of the Republic of Azerbaijan," the country's ministry of defense said in a statement, according to Azerbaijan state news agency Azertac.

However, Azerbaijan said it will respond to any continued "provocations" with "offensive operations in order to destroy the enemy."

The announcement comes a day after long-simmering tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan flared again, with at least 18 Armenian and 12 Azerbaijani troops killed in fighting, according to state media reports.

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Read more: http://edition.cnn.com/2016/04/03/asia/azerbaijan-armenia-violence/