Azerbaijan and the separatists controlling the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region have traded accusations over armed clashes along the heavily militarized line of contact that caused casualties.

The separatist military said on February 25 that its troops repelled attacks by Azerbaijani armed forces in the southeastern and eastern sections of the front line.

The ethnic Armenian military leadership in Nagorno-Karabakh said its troops “timely spotted and repulsed” attacks by Azerbaijani forces and that several Azerbaijani soldiers were killed in the fighting, while the Armenian side suffered no casualties.

“There are several bodies [of Azerbaijani soldiers] in the neutral zone. The Armenian side suffered no dead or wounded,” Karabakh’s Ministry of Defense said in a statement.

Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry confirmed the overnight clashes, but insisted that they were triggered by the separatist forces.

It also admitted casualties, without specifying a number, and said the Karabakh forces had launched an unsuccessful offensive for the purpose of "improving their positions."

It said the ethnic Armenian forces had been rebuffed but continued to shell Azerbaijani positions with heavy artillery.

Meanwhile, the Karabakh military leadership quoted “reliable data” in reporting movements of Azerbaijani troops and materiel in the eastern direction of the line of contact.

The Armenian Defense Ministry issued a statement warning Azerbaijan's military and political leadership against further escalation of the situation in the conflict zone.

The Armenian military insisted it is “committed to the cease-fire regime.”

Armenia-backed separatists seized control of the mainly ethnic-Armenian Nagorno-Karabakh during a war in the early 1990s that killed some 30,000 people. Diplomatic efforts to settle the conflict have brought little progress.

Sporadic Armenian-Azerbaijani clashes have become particularly frequent in recent years. Four days of heavy fighting in April 2016 reportedly killed dozens on both sides.</s>Azerbaijan says several of its soldiers have been killed during fighting in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region as Armenia and Azerbaijan blame each other for an outbreak of violence.

Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry said in a statement Saturday that its forces had "suffered losses" when its positions were assaulted by Armenian troops early Saturday.

The Nagorno-Karabakh Defense Ministry said in a statement that Armenian forces did not suffer any casualties in the clashes and that the Azerbaijani soldiers were killed when they launched an attack.

Nagorno-Karabakh is in Azerbaijan, but since a separatist war ended in 1994 it has been under the control of local ethnic Armenian forces and the Armenian military. An outbreak of fighting in April killed about 75 soldiers from the two sides.</s>MOSCOW — Several Azerbaijani soldiers have been killed during fighting in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region, Azerbaijan said Saturday as it and neighboring Armenia traded blame for an outbreak of violence.

The clashes were some of the heaviest in the region since fighting last year saw about 75 soldiers from both sides killed.

Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry said in a statement Saturday that its forces had "suffered losses" when its positions were attacked by Armenian troops early Saturday. It did not give a precise number for those killed or wounded.

The Nagorno-Karabakh Defense Ministry said in a statement, also released Saturday, that Armenian forces did not suffer any casualties and that Azerbaijani soldiers were killed when they launched an attack.

Both sides claimed they inflicted losses on each other. Azerbaijan said in a statement quoted by Russian news agencies that it had shot down an Armenian drone and destroyed an Armenian firing position.

Armenian media quoted Nagorno-Karabakh officials saying that Azerbaijan had deployed tanks in the skirmish.

Nagorno-Karabakh is in Azerbaijan, but since a separatist war ended in 1994 it has been under the control of local ethnic Armenian forces and the Armenian military. Armenian forces also occupy several areas outside the Karabakh region.

Fighting between the two sides in April was the worst in 20 years and an uneasy peace was only restored following a Russian-brokered cease-fire agreement.</s>Alwaght- Deadly clashes have erupted in Nagorno-Karabakh region t between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops.

"Losses have been reported during the armed clash.", Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry reported.

"During the night from the 24th to the 25th of February, units of the Armenian Armed Forces attempted an attack on Azerbaijan’s positions at various parts of the front line," the defense ministry said. "Losses have been reported during the armed clash."

Armenia’s Defense Ministry also reported an armed clash was registered night to Saturday in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict area.

"On February, 25, at about 03:00-04:00 local time, at two directions - north-eastern (Martuni) and eastern (Agdam) - was an attempt to break through the engagement line," the defense authority said.

In the response measures by the Karabakh side, "the enemy had new losses - killed and hurt servicemen," Armenia’s ministry said. No losses were reported by the Karabakh side. The former Soviet republics of Azerbaijan and Armenia have been locked in a lingering conflict over the disputed region and frequent exchanges of fire nearly spiraled into an all-out war last year.

In April 2016, at least 110 people on both sides were killed as simmering tensions flared into the worst skirmishes in decades over the region.

A Russian-brokered truce ended the four days of fierce clashes in April but attempts to re-launch the stalled peace process since then have not been successful.

Karabakh is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan but it is governed by the self-proclaimed Karabakh republic backed by Armenia.

Baku and Yerevan have quarreled over the region since Armenian separatists captured the territory in a war that claimed nearly 30,000 lives in the early 1990s and ended in a fragile 1994 ceasefire deal. The two sides, however, never signed a solid peace pact.</s>"Today, at about 3 a.m. [23:00 GMT] and 4 a.m. [00:00 GMT] on south-eastern direction and eastern direction of Karabakh-Azerbaijani line of contact, the Azerbaijani forces attempted to launch an offensive, using mine clearing vehicles and special devices," the NKR's Defense Ministry said in a statement.

According to the ministry, Azerbaijani forces suffered losses and retreated, while Nagorno-Karabakh side reportedly sustained no casualties.

Earlier in the day, Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry said that the Armenian units tried to seize strategic heights in the area, but the attack was repelled, with both sides suffering losses.</s>Bloody clashes erupted Saturday between Azerbaijani forces and Armenian separatists over the breakaway Nagorny Karabakh region, claiming the lives of several Azerbaijani servicemen, Baku and rebel officials said. Ex-Soviet Azerbaijan and Armenia are locked in a protracted conflict over the disputed region, and frequent exchanges of fire nearly spiralled into all-out war last year. Azerbaijan’s defence ministry said “Armenian forces attempted an intrusion into Azerbaijani territory along the Karabakh frontline” in the early hours of Saturday.

Watch what else is making news:



“Fierce clashes erupted at the frontline’s Khojavend-Fizuli sector,” the ministry said in a statement, adding that Azerbaijani military “suffered losses in manpower as they courageously repelled the enemy’s attack.” “The enemy continues shelling Azerbaijani positions from heavy artillery,” it said. Armenia’s defence ministry, for its part, accused Baku of attacking Karabakh army positions along the south-eastern and eastern sectors of the frontline.

“Azerbaijan’s political and military leadership is increasing tensions at the frontline and spreads disinformation,” the ministry said.

“Armenia is committed to the ceasefire and calls on the Azerbaijani side to refrain from steps that would further escalate the situation.”

The rebel defence ministry in Karabakh said its forces have “repelled the enemy who suffered losses. Several corpses of Azerbaijani soldiers remain at the neutral territory.” The latest clash came after three Armenian soldiers were killed in fighting with Azerbaijani troops on December 29.

In April last year, at least 110 people from both sides were killed as simmering violence flared into the worst clashes in decades over the region. A Russian-brokered ceasefire ended the four days of fierce fighting in April but attempts to relaunch the stalled peace process since then have failed.

Baku and Yerevan have feuded over the Nagorny Karabakh region since Armenian separatists seized the territory in a war that claimed some 30,000 lives in the early 1990s and ended in a fragile 1994 truce. The two sides never signed a firm peace deal.

Energy-rich Azerbaijan, whose military spending exceeds Armenia’s entire state budget, has repeatedly threatened to take back the breakaway region by force. But Moscow-allied Armenia has vowed to crush any military offensive.</s>American The Daily Caller has published an article headlined “The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is anything but frozen”.

Written by Justin Amler, a noted writer and commentator on international issues with special emphases on the Middle East, Eurasia and the former Soviet Union, the article says:

“The Nagorno-Karabakh (NK) conflict, often referred to as a ‘frozen conflict,’ is anything but frozen.

Running though the NK region of Azerbaijan, occupied by Armenia for the last quarter century, lies a long thin, deadly line, known as the ‘line of contact.’ This ‘line of contact,’ separating the Azerbaijani Armed Forces and the Armenian army, is one of the most militarized zones in the world, running through a beautiful landscape like a jagged-edged scar.

Few conflicts have the potential to ignite the surrounding regions like this powder keg. In many ways, if a new Cold War were to start, its line would lie directly through this region.

This lies in direct contrast to Azerbaijan, which has strategically positioned itself with the West, including providing energy security to Europe through its Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan pipeline and the network of gas pipelines known as the Southern Energy Corridor. Azerbaijan also maintains a strong economic and military relationship with Israel.

It is alarming that this conflict lies unresolved, for time has not dulled nor dampened the wick on which this conflict burns.

Just last December, Armenian forces attempted to violate the actual Armenian-Azerbaijan state border, but were repelled by superior Azerbaijani forces. This conflict reportedly inflicted heavy casualties, but not without loss themselves, including the death of an Azerbaijani serviceman whose body was illegally held and just returned this month. This came about only after intervention from the Council of Europe and the OSCE Minsk-Group for Armenia.

These flagrant violations of international law by Armenia have been recognized by many world bodies who refuse to condemn Azerbaijani military actions to the frustration of the Armenians. International law is clearly on the side of Azerbaijan, and today, there exists no less than 4 UN Security Council Resolutions calling on Armenia to withdraw its military forces from Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts it currently occupies.

Armenia would be wise to remember that the Azerbaijan they fought in the early 1990s is a very different animal than the one they are facing now. During the last three decades, Azerbaijan has developed a strong economy, a vibrant society with world class educational and cultural facilities, as well as a professionally trained, well-equipped modern army, complete with state of the art command and control systems, advanced weapons and technology that gives Azerbaijan the ability to best the lesser Armenian side.

This was evidenced in the April 2016 outbreak of hostilities, started by Armenia, but finished by the better trained and equipped Azerbaijanis. Azerbaijan liberated a large swath of land and strategic highlands routing out the Armenians.

One of the liberated villages, Jojug Marjanli, was recently visited by the Israeli ambassador to Azerbaijan, Dan Stav, along with other foreign diplomats and heads of international organizations.

Ambassador Stav commented how saddened he was to see the level of destruction in the village, but also expressed hope that people would soon be able to return to the village and cultivate the surrounding fertile land. He also backed the efforts of the international community for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.

A window of opportunity exists right now for that peaceful resolution to take place, and despite the often-bleak assessment of the situation and the constant ceasefire violations, the foreign ministers of both Azerbaijan and Armenia met recently in Munich, which can only be seen as a positive sign.

With an economy that is in deep decline, diminishing foreign investments, a palpable brain drain and a lack of international allies, Armenia must examine the isolation it has suffered due to its bad behaviour, i.e., Armenia’s absence from involvement in the plethora of economic development and integration projects, and the region’s vast and lucrative energy projects.

It is in Armenia’s interests to settle this conflict now—for all the many and dire economic reasons. A resolution will provide Armenians with better and more prosperous lives. It will allow Armenia entrée into the vastly lucrative economic development projects of the region. Also, do Armenians really want to needlessly face the Azerbaijanis on the battlefield—alone?

Prosperity brings peace and, likewise, peace brings prosperity. This opportunity should be seized, because windows of opportunity, by their very nature, will eventually close.”

The Daily Caller: The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is anything but frozen</s>Deadly clashes have broken out between Azerbaijani troops and Armenian separatists over the breakaway Karabakh region, authorities on both sides said.

 Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry said in a statement that Armenian forces “attempted an intrusion into Azerbaijani territory along the Karabakh frontline” in the early hours of Saturday.

 “Fierce clashes erupted at the frontline’s Khojavend-Fizuli sector,” the statement said, adding the Azerbaijani military “suffered losses in manpower as they courageously repelled the enemy’s attack.”

 “The enemy continues shelling Azerbaijani positions from heavy artillery,” the official statement added.

 Armenian officials reported their own version of the clashes, accusing Azerbaijani forces of attacking separatist positions along the south-eastern and eastern sectors of the frontline.

 They accused “Azerbaijan’s political and military leadership” of increasing tensions at the frontline and spreading disinformation.

 “Armenia is committed to the ceasefire and calls on the Azerbaijani side to refrain from steps that would further escalate the situation,” a Defense Ministry statement said.

 The latest fighting came after three Armenian soldiers were killed in clashes with Azerbaijani forces on December 29, 2016.

 The former Soviet republics of Azerbaijan and Armenia have been locked in a lingering conflict over the disputed region and frequent exchanges of fire nearly spiraled into an all-out war last year.

 In April 2016, at least 110 people on both sides were killed as simmering tensions flared into the worst skirmishes in decades over the region.

 A Russian-brokered truce ended the four days of fierce clashes in April but attempts to re-launch the stalled peace process since then have not been successful.—Agencies</s>Deadly clashes have broken out between Azerbaijani troops and Armenian separatists over the breakaway Karabakh region, authorities on both sides say.

Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry said in a statement that Armenian forces "attempted an intrusion into Azerbaijani territory along the Karabakh frontline" in the early hours of Saturday.

"Fierce clashes erupted at the frontline's Khojavend-Fizuli sector," the statement said, adding the Azerbaijani military "suffered losses in manpower as they courageously repelled the enemy's attack."

"The enemy continues shelling Azerbaijani positions from heavy artillery," the official statement added.

Armenian officials reported their own version of the clashes, accusing Azerbaijani forces of attacking separatist positions along the south-eastern and eastern sectors of the frontline.

They accused "Azerbaijan's political and military leadership" of increasing tensions at the frontline and spreading disinformation.

"Armenia is committed to the ceasefire and calls on the Azerbaijani side to refrain from steps that would further escalate the situation," a Defense Ministry statement said.

The latest fighting came after three Armenian soldiers were killed in clashes with Azerbaijani forces on December 29, 2016.

The former Soviet republics of Azerbaijan and Armenia have been locked in a lingering conflict over the disputed region and frequent exchanges of fire nearly spiraled into an all-out war last year.

In April 2016, at least 110 people on both sides were killed as simmering tensions flared into the worst skirmishes in decades over the region.

A Russian-brokered truce ended the four days of fierce clashes in April but attempts to re-launch the stalled peace process since then have not been successful.

Karabakh is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan but it is governed by the self-proclaimed Karabakh republic backed by Armenia.

Baku and Yerevan have quarreled over the region since Armenian separatists captured the territory in a war that claimed nearly 30,000 lives in the early 1990s and ended in a fragile 1994 ceasefire deal. The two sides, however, never signed a solid peace pact.</s>Editing Director at France-based Center for the Analysis of Foreign Affairs (CAPE) Didier Chaudet has noted the unacceptability of the status quo in the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The status quo is unacceptable for Azerbaijan and the situation cannot continue this way, he told a conference organized at the Cultural Center of Azerbaijan`s Embassy in Paris.

Chaudet said last April`s four-day war in Karabakh clearly showed Azerbaijan`s might. He said Azerbaijan is capable of liberating its occupied territories at any time. The French expert said it is important that superpowers put pressure on Yerevan.
Clashes erupt between Nagorno-Karabakh separatists and Azerbaijani forces in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region. The Azerbaijan Ministry of Defense confirmed casualties on its side while the separatist forces claim to have no casualties. Both sides blame each other for the flareup in fighting.