Umamah Bakharia | ub@radioislam.co.za

4min read
14 September 2022
10:00 am CAT

Armenia and Azerbaijan are blaming each other over the deadly clashes that have erupted on its shared border.

Reports suggest that this is the deadliest fighting between the neighbouring countries since their 2020 war over the Nagorno-Karabakh region.

According to a statement by the Armenia’s defence ministry, Suren Papikyan, the conflict broke out on Tuesday morning after Azerbaijan forces allegedly hailed cross border attacks using “artillery, mortars, drones and large- calibre rifles” that have killed at least 49 Armenian soldiers.

The statement added that the attacks had targeted military and civilian infrastructure around the countries towns and villages.

However, Azerbaijan has denied instigating any offences and claim it’s troops had responded to “large-scale provocations” by the Armenian military.

Azerbaijan’s deputy foreign minister, Elnur Mammadov has accused of Armenia of shelling “Azerbaijani military positions for a few weeks now”.

Meanwhile, Russia claims it had brokered a ceasefire between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

“We call on the parties to refrain from further escalation of the situation, exercise restraint and strictly observe the ceasefire in accordance with the trilateral statements of the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia of November 9, 2020, January 11 and November 26, 2021,” reads a statement by Russian foreign ministry.

However, local media has reported that the cease fire had been broken.