BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 13. During the night of September 12, the Armenian armed forces units committed large-scale provocations in the Dashkasan, Kalbajar and Lachin directions of the Azerbaijani-Armenian state border, Trend reports with reference to Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry.
"At night, the sabotage groups of the Armenian armed forces using the mountainous terrain of the area and the existing ravine gaps mined the territories and supply roads between the positions of the Azerbaijan Army Units in different directions.
Confrontation occurred as a result of urgent measures taken by
the Azerbaijan Army Units in order to immediately suppress these
actions.
The Armenian armed forces stationed in the directions of
Basarkechar, Istisu, Garakilsa and Gorus settlements using various
caliber weapons and mortars subjected to intensive fire some
positions, shelters and strongholds of the Azerbaijan Army in the
territory of Dashkasan, Kalbajar and Lachin regions. As a result,
there were losses among the military personnel, the military
infrastructure was damaged.
The Azerbaijan Army Units deployed in these directions are taking decisive retaliatory measures in order to suppress provocations committed by the Armenian armed forces and military threats to the territory and sovereignty of Azerbaijan, to ensure the safety of the military personnel, including civilian workers involved in infrastructure work in the territory of Kalbajar and Lachin regions.
Necessary measures are being taken to suppress the firing points of the Armenian armed forces and to prevent the expansion of the scale of the confrontation.
There are losses among the manpower and combat equipment of the Armenian armed forces involved in sabotage operations.
In general, over the past month, provocations of the Armenian armed forces in the direction of Lachin, Gadabay, Dashkasan and Kalbajar regions of the state border, cases of shelling of the positions of the Azerbaijan Army in the territory of these regions using various caliber weapons are of intensive and systematic nature. At the same time, it was observed that Armenia concentrated offensive weapons, heavy artillery, and military personnel along the borders of Azerbaijan.
All these facts once again demonstrate that Armenia is getting prepared for a large-scale military provocation.
By taking such actions, Armenia also aims to slow down the implementation of large-scale civil infrastructure projects carried out by Azerbaijan in the border areas liberated from occupation and maintain a tense atmosphere near Azerbaijan's borders.
We declare once again that the military-political leadership of
Armenia bears the entire responsibility for the provocations,
confrontation, and losses.
The public will be provided with additional information about the
occurred situation," reads a message from the ministry.