Azerbaijani army attacks journalists’ car near Karabakh frontlineApril 4, 2016 - 21:28 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Azerbaijani armed forces continue shelling the north-eastern section of the Nagorno Karabakh contact line, firing from mortars, cannons, also using unmanned aerial vehicles. Speaking to a group of foreign and local journalists, a Karabakh army Colonel urged them to maintain distance from each other, as unmanned drones were still flying nearby. Only after the Nagorno Karabakh Defense Army destroyed the drone, the journalists were able to move forward to hotspots of military actions.
“Can you see the soil I am standing on? No Turk will ever set foot in this land. Even if I fall, I am sure my fellow comrades will have my back,” an Armenian artilleryman said. “Precision lies in the core of Armenian artillery. We are ready to fire every single moment.”
Also, the soldiers urged reporters to immediately return to safer areas, as the rival’s drones could target them any minute. And they were right: on the way back, three shells landed some 30m, 50m, and 55m far from the journalists’ car. No casualties were reported.
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. As many as 20 Karabakh servicemen were killed and 70 were wounded in the course of military operations. In addition, five civilians have been killed. 26 soldiers have gone missing so far. As of April 4, the Azerbaijani side has lost 20 tanks and over 5 armored vehicles, including an IFV, as well as 1 TOS-1A Solntsepyok multiple rocket launcher, 1 BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launcher, 2 military helicopters and 6 unmanned aerial vehicles. Seven Karabakh tanks have been neutralized since April 2. The Armenian side has lost eight positions (300 meters overall). 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 | European Parliament to discuss repression in Azerbaijan The European Parliament will discuss repression of civil society in Azerbaijan on April 24 PACE wants concessions from Azerbaijan to accept Baku back A PACE co-rapporteur said that Azerbaijani authorities must make certain concessions so that the country can return to PACE. Armenia PM, France envoy discuss regional matters Issues related to the consistent development of Armenia-France cooperation were discussed. Azerbaijan razes historic Armenian church to ground Azerbaijan has demolished the historic Armenian Church of St. John the Baptist (known as Kanach Zham). |