Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 24
By Ilkin Izzet - Trend:
Azerbaijani armed forces have suppressed the activity of the Armenian armed forces in the Aghdam-Khojavend districts' direction, five soldiers of the Armenian army were killed and eight wounded, the message of the press service of the Azerbaijani defense ministry said Aug.24.
On the evening of August 22, the Armenian armed forces, once again treacherously violated the ceasefire and opened fire on positions of Azerbaijani army in the direction of Aghdam and Khojavend districts using 60 mm and 82 mm mortars and large-caliber weapons, according to the message.
After assessing the operational situation emerged in the mentioned direction of the frontline, the command of Azerbaijani armed forces decided to strike back with mortars and cannons, in certain directions on the frontline and in the rear of the enemy's defense, as well as at the positions, posts, trenches, lines of communication.
Despite the efforts to once again hide the amount of losses, the Armenian side lost five soldiers and eight more have been wounded, according to obtained information. After a short fierce firefight, the command of Azerbaijani armed forces decided to temporarily stop shooting, so that the enemy could take the bodies of the dead away and assist the wounded.
As a result of the enemy shelling, three Azerbaijani soldiers suffered minor shrapnel wounds. After being provided with immediate medical care, soldiers were taken to a military medical institution. After receiving additional treatment, the servicemen returned to their military unit.
Azerbaijani defense ministry said that the responsibility for the tension, which emerged once again on the contact line of the troops and human losses, lies entirely on the military and political leadership of Armenia.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.
The two countries signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Russia, France and the US are currently holding peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented the UN Security Council's four resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.