 20 02.04.16 - The two children, wounded in Azerbaijani shelling of a school yard in the city of Martuni in Artsakh Republic, currently hospitalized in Republican Medical Center in Stepanakert                         Karabakh units destroy attacking Azeri helicopter amid heated clashes  April 2, 2016 - 10:31 AMTPanARMENIAN.Net - On the night of April 1-2, Azerbaijani armed forces initiated overt offensive operations in the southern, southeastern and northeastern directions of the line of contact with Nagorno Karabakh, using artillery, armored fighting vehicles and air force equipment among other weapons. Aside from the battles on the frontline, the rival has also carried out artillery strikes on civilian settlements and places of permanent deployment of several military units. According to the spokesperson for the Armenian Defense Ministry Artsrun Hovhannisyan, active military operations continue, the Armenian army having taken retaliatory measures and making counterattacks in some areas. Casualties were registered on both sides, Hovhannisyan said, but the rival has suffered major equipment and manpower losses. “In combat actions, the initiative is in our hands,” Hovhannisyan said in a statement. According to the Karabakh Defense Army, the Armenian air defense units have destroyed an Azerbaijani helicopter that was storming towards the Armenian positions. At the moment, heated clashes continue along the Karabakh-Azerbaijan contact line. Accepting the rival’s challenge, the Karabakh frontline units confidently conduct defensive battles.    The conflict between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan The conflict between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan broke out as result of the ethnic cleansing launched by the Azeri authorities in the final years of the Soviet Union. The Karabakh War was fought from 1991 (when the Nagorno Karabakh Republic was proclaimed) to 1994 (when a ceasefire was sealed by Armenia, NKR and Azerbaijan). Most of Nagorno Karabakh and a security zone consisting of 7 regions are now under control of NKR defense army. Armenia and Azerbaijan are holding peace talks mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group up till now.  Top stories Six total incidents have burned 19 old-growth trees. Friday night 8 trees were torched along the beautiful main entrance. The EU does not intend to conduct military exercises with Armenia, Lead Spokesperson for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Peter Stano says. Hikmet Hajiyev has said that there is no place for USAID operation in Azerbaijan any longer. A telephone conversation between Putin and Pashinyan before the CSTO summit is not planned, Peskov says.   Partner news |  Topic Latest news Azerbaijan must respect human rights, Scholz tells Aliyev  German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has called for greater respect for human rights in Azerbaijan.Armenia: Defense Ministry warns against involving army in political processes The Ministry’s statement came after a video surfaced online, showing soldiers joining the protests in Tavush.Ucom equips four bus stops in Ijevan with free Wi-Fi Ucom now provides free Wi-Fi coverage in smart bus stops in four communities of Ijevan.Armenia, Russia discuss life extension of Metsamor nuclear plant Issues regarding the extension of life of the 2nd power unit of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant were discussed in Yerevan. |
