Azerbaijan Launches Attack on Nagorno-Karabakh, Heightening Regional Tensions
In a move that threatens to reignite a long-standing conflict, Azerbaijan launched an attack on Nagorno-Karabakh on Tuesday. Nagorno-Karabakh is a mountainous region with a population of 120,000 ethnic Armenians. This latest attack has raised concerns as it involves not only Azerbaijan, but also Turkey, Russia, and the West.
Azerbaijan claims that it is conducting local anti-terrorist activities within Nagorno-Karabakh in response to the death of six Azerbaijani military personnel caused by landmines. However, reports from the region suggest that heavy shelling, missile strikes, and a full-scale assault are taking place. Azerbaijan’s military and presidential administration have stated that the assault will continue until the breakaway ethnic Armenian administration surrenders and submits to the authority of Azerbaijan’s government.
Tragically, 25 people, including two civilians, have been reported killed in Tuesday’s attack, according to authorities in Nagorno-Karabakh. The Nagorno-Karabakh region lies within Azerbaijan’s internationally recognized borders, but Armenia gained control over the region following a brutal conflict between the two Soviet states from 1988 to 1994. During those wars, the majority of the Azeri population was forced to flee, and Armenians held the region until Azerbaijan, with the support of Turkey, regained control in a 2020 war. The war only came to an end when Russia intervened and brokered a cease-fire.
The cease-fire was strengthened by the presence of approximately 2,000 Russian peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh, following the displacement of around 90,000 ethnic Armenians during the six-week war in 2020. Tensions have been escalating since December, when Azerbaijan effectively cut off the region’s sole route to Armenia, resulting in shortages of food and medicine. While there were hopes that Western-backed negotiations in 2021 would lead to a permanent peace, analysts believe that with Russia’s attention focused on Ukraine, Azerbaijan is seizing the opportunity to capture the entire region.
The geopolitical landscape in the region is complex. Azerbaijan is closely allied with Turkey, a member of NATO, while Armenia has a military alliance with Russia. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan of Armenia has also expressed a desire to strengthen ties with the West. Disappointment was felt in Armenia during the 2020 war due to Russia’s perceived lack of assertiveness in aiding the country. Both the United States and Russia have called on Azerbaijan to respect the 2020 cease-fire.
The situation in Nagorno-Karabakh is volatile and has the potential to escalate into a regional conflict involving multiple global powers. The international community is closely watching the developments and urging all parties to exercise restraint and seek a peaceful resolution. The need for diplomacy and dialogue has never been more crucial to prevent a humanitarian crisis and further loss of life.
