Azerbaijan’s armed forces have so far liberated 22 settlements from theArmenian occupation amid ongoing border clashes in Upper Karabakh, theTurkish Defense Ministry said Monday.
Fighting began on Sept. 27 when the Armenian forces targeted civilianAzerbaijani settlements and military positions in the region, leading tocasualties.
“According to information from reliable Azerbaijani sources, a total of 22settlements have been liberated from occupation so far in the operationlaunched by Azerbaijani Armed Forces to reclaim occupied territories,” theministry said.
Meanwhile, the Armenian forces have launched missile attacks on Azerbaijanicities of Beylagan, Barda and Tartar, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said.
*Upper Karabakh conflict *
Relations between the two former Soviet republics have been tense since1991, when the Armenian military occupied Upper Karabakh, aninternationally recognized territory of Azerbaijan.
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Azerbaijan liberates 22 settlements from occupationlink
Multiple UN resolutions, as well as many international organizations,demand the withdrawal of the invading forces.
The OSCE Minsk Group — co-chaired by France, Russia and the US — wasformed in 1992 to find a peaceful solution to the conflict, but to noavail. A cease-fire, however, was agreed upon in 1994.
Many world powers, including Russia, France and the US, have urged animmediate cease-fire. Turkey, meanwhile, has supported Baku’s right toself-defense.
