BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 4. Today marks four years since Armenia’s first missile strike on Ganja, Trend reports.
On October 4, 2020, at around 10 a.m., rockets fired by Armenian forces struck civilian areas in Azerbaijan’s second-largest city, including a two-story residential building and private homes. As a result, one civilian was killed, and 39 others were injured. In addition to residential buildings, civilian infrastructure and historical landmarks were also damaged.
The military-political leadership of Armenia, through its deliberate and gross violations of international law, including the Geneva Conventions, UN resolutions, the Hague Convention, and UNESCO provisions, targeted civilians. Despite these violations, Armenia disregarded international norms and continued its terror campaign against civilians.
Ganja endured five rocket and heavy artillery attacks, which led to the deaths of 26 people, the injury of 175 others, and significant damage to civilian infrastructure and vehicles.
Overall, during the 44-day Patriotic War, which began on September 27, 2020, Armenian armed forces and illegal armed groups attacked Azerbaijani civilian settlements, resulting in 93 civilian deaths (including 54 men, 27 women, and 12 children) and 444 injuries (including 268 men, 109 women, and 67 children).
Unable to accept their defeat in the Patriotic War, Armenia resorted to terrorist acts aimed at instilling fear and chaos among the Azerbaijani population.
Thanks to the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, the bravery of the Azerbaijani Army, and the unity of the Azerbaijani people, Armenian forces were decisively defeated in just 44 days, restoring Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity.
Despite Armenia’s war crimes, Azerbaijan extended an offer of peace following the Patriotic War. However, Armenia rejected this offer and continued to provoke hostilities.
On September 19, 2023, Armenian forces and separatist groups initiated large-scale military provocations, including the mining of Azerbaijani territory and committing terrorist acts. In response, Azerbaijan conducted local anti-terrorist measures, swiftly defeating the Armenian separatists in less than 24 hours and forcing their surrender. The separatist regime in Karabakh was dismantled, its leaders arrested, and Azerbaijan fully restored sovereignty over its entire territory.