World Azerbaijan, Armenia no closer to ending clashes after 4 days

Armenia and Azerbaijan clash over disputed region

Long-simmering tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan appear to have flared up in the contested Nagorno-Karabakh region, with both sides accusing each other of attacking civilians. © Armenian Defense Ministry/AP A photo released by the Armenian defense ministry appears to show an Azerbaijani tank being destroyed on September 27, 2020. The neighboring former Soviet republics have long been at odds over the territory -- which is situated within the borders of Azerbaijan -- and fought a war over it that finished in 1994.

The president of Azerbaijan said Armenia ’s withdrawal from Nagorno-Karabakh was the sole condition to end fighting over the separatist territory. Aliyev’s statement came a day after Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said that Azerbaijan ’s “aggression towards Nagorno-Karabakh and

Azerbaijan announced that the Armenian Armed Forces had shelled settlements on the contact line in the area. The Council also expressed concern about clashes and condemned use of force. Your account has been deleted! You can restore your account within 30 days by following the link sent to

YEREVAN, Armenia (AP) — Heavy fighting between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces over the separatist region of Nagorno-Karabakh continued for a fourth straight day on Wednesday, with statements from both sides indicating that the flare-up of a decades-old conflict that has killed dozens of people since Sunday was no closer to an end.

© Provided by Associated Press In this image taken from video released by the Armenian Defense Ministry on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2020, Armenian solders guard their position in the self-proclaimed Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan. Armenia's Foreign Ministry in a statement "completely" denied reports of shelling the Dashkesan region and said that with those reports Azerbaijan was laying the groundwork for "expanding the geography of hostilities, including the aggression against the Republic of Armenia." (Armenian Defense Ministry via AP)

The president of Azerbaijan said Armenia's withdrawal from Nagorno-Karabakh was the sole condition to end fighting over the separatist territory. Armenian officials alleged Turkey's involvement in the renewed conflict and said its neighbor's actions “hinder the efforts of the international community to cease the hostilities.”

Fears grow of war between Armenia and Azerbaijan as fighting continues for second day

Azerbaijan and Armenia are reporting more casualties as the violent flare-up between the two Caucus nations continued for a second day. © Provided by Washington Examiner On Monday, forces tied to the two countries reportedly exchanged rocket and artillery fire in the escalating battle that began on Sunday. The fighting is raising fears of a wider conflict in the region and the possibility that Turkey, which backs Azerbaijan and Russia (which has a mutual defense agreement with Armenia), could become involved.

Armenia has reported that four of its soldiers have died, including two officers. Azerbaijan 's military said it had destroyed an Armenian fortification and artillery and had inflicted casualties on Tensions last flared into conflict in 2016, with the countries clashing over the disputed territory for four days .

The Armenian military has claimed it downed an advanced Azerbaijani drone amid ongoing border clashes . Azerbaijan ’s Defense Ministry accused Armenia of violating a 1994 ceasefire dozens of times and of shelling Azerbaijani positions with mortars and grenade launchers.

© Provided by Associated Press Damage is seen inside an apartment building that was allegedly damaged by recent shelling during fighting over the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh in Tartar region, Azerbaijan, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2020. Leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia brushed off the suggestion of peace talks Tuesday, accusing each other of obstructing negotiations over the separatist territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, with dozens killed and injured in three days of heavy fighting. (AP Photo/Aziz Karimov)

Meeting with wounded servicemen, Azerbaijani President Ilkham Aliyev said Armenia must “unconditionally, completely and immediately leave” Nagorno-Karabakh, which lies within Azerbaijan and has been under the control of ethnic Armenian forces backed by the Armenian government since 1994.

Armenia claims Turkey 'shot down' one of its jets during Nagorno-Karabakh fighting

Armenia says Turkey shot down one of its fighter jets as fighting with Azerbaijan around disputed enclave Nagorno-Karabakh intensifies. Armenia's defense ministry on Tuesday said a Turkish F-16 had shot down an Armenian SU-25 fighter in Armenian airspace, killing the pilot. A ministry spokesperson said the Turkish jet took off from an airbase inside Azerbaijan and had been providing cover for Azerbaijani aircraft attacking Armenian positions.

Azerbaijan and Armenian forces have resumed fighting in a major eruption of their If "the Armenian government fulfills the demand, fighting and bloodshed will end , and peace will be Direct Turkish military action against Armenia would mark a major escalation after days of violent clashes between

The clash between Azerbaijan and Armenia has been escalating fast. There is a full scale war going on, with both sides using heavy artillery, tanks, and aviation, with confirmed causalities already being in the hundreds, including civilians. This conflict is beneficial for both Azerbaijani and Armenian elites

© Provided by Associated Press A view of an apartment building that was allegedly damaged by recent shelling during fighting over the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh in Tartar region, Azerbaijan, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2020. Leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia brushed off the suggestion of peace talks Tuesday, accusing each other of obstructing negotiations over the separatist territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, with dozens killed and injured in three days of heavy fighting. (AP Photo/Aziz Karimov)

“If Armenia’s government fulfills it, the fighting will stop, blood will not be shed, there will be peace,” Aliyev was quoted by the Russian state Tass news agency as saying. “Azerbaijan is restoring its territorial integrity, and we have every right to do so.”

The scenario laid out by the Azerbaijani leader is at odds with Armenia’s views on ending the crisis. Aliyev's statement came a day after Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said that Azerbaijan's “aggression towards Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia” needed to end before any compromise could be reached.

Exclusive: Armenia, Azerbaijan Speak Out, Here's What They Want from U.S.

As their countries battle at home, Newsweek spoke to Armenian and Azerbaijani ambassadors to the U.S., who disagree on much but both see Washington as having an important role in resolving their deadly conflict.But there's one thing they do agree on—things can never be the same.

Azerbaijan 's president has vowed to fight on until Armenian forces leave disputed territory, on the fourth day of fierce fighting in the region. Azerbaijan has rejected renewed negotiations with Armenia , and unlike in previous escalations it has a greater degree of Turkish support to count on.

Azerbaijani and Armenian forces claimed more losses in the third day of clashes in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh. Both Azerbaijan and Armenia appear to be determined to continue the battle at all costs, at least for now. More on this topic

On Wednesday, Pashinyan also said that Armenia may recognize Nagorno-Karabakh as independent, a move that could further interfere with a potential settlement of the dispute.

Armenia and Azerbaijan have been locked for decades in a conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, where a separatist war was fought in the early 1990s until three years after the breakup of the Soviet Union. The region in the Caucasus Mountains of about 4,400 square kilometers (1,700 square miles), roughly the size of the U.S. state of Delaware, is 50 kilometers (30 miles) from the Armenian border.

© Provided by Associated Press People wave Azerbaijan national flags during a funeral ceremony of a member of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces who was allegedly killed during fighting over the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh in Tartar region, Azerbaijan, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2020. Leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia brushed off the suggestion of peace talks Tuesday, accusing each other of obstructing negotiations over the separatist territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, with dozens killed and injured in three days of heavy fighting. (AP Photo/Aziz Karimov)

Soldiers backed by Armenia occupy the region as well as some Azerbaijani territory outside of it.

Exclusive: Official at Center of Armenia, Azerbaijan Conflict Calls It Fight to Death

"We've been here our whole life, and we are staying here to do what we can. It would be wrong not to worry, but it would be wrong to panic and leave your post," Artsakh representative to the U.S. told Newsweek.For this tiny republic, defeat could mean the end of his internationally unrecognized government, and perhaps worse for its constituents.

Fighting between Azerbaijan and ethnic Armenian forces over Nagorno-Karabakh, an ethnic Armenian province that broke away from Azerbaijan in 1988, entered its seventh day today. Armenia 's defence ministry said a civilian bus was set on fire after being hit by an Azerbaijani

Armenian and Azerbaijani forces have frequently engaged in clashes . The current skirmishes appear to mark the most serious spike in hostilities since Stepanyan also claimed the Azerbaijani military used civilians as shields, placing artillery close to the village of Dondar Gushchu in the Tovuz district

On Wednesday, the fighting continued despite repeated calls for a cease-fire from around the globe. According to officials in Nagorno-Karabakh, around 100 servicemen and several civilians on their side have been killed since the fighting erupted on Sunday. Azerbaijani officials didn't provide details on its military casualties but said 14 civilians have been killed and 46 wounded on its side.

The conflict escalated on Tuesday, with Armenia claiming that a Turkish F-16 fighter jet shot down a SU-25 from its air force in Armenian airspace, killing the pilot.

© Provided by Associated Press In this image taken from video released by the Armenian Defense Ministry on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2020, Armenian solders guard their position in the self-proclaimed Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan. Armenia's Foreign Ministry in a statement "completely" denied reports of shelling the Dashkesan region and said that with those reports Azerbaijan was laying the groundwork for "expanding the geography of hostilities, including the aggression against the Republic of Armenia." (Armenian Defense Ministry via AP)

Turkey, which has been vocal about siding with Azerbaijan in the dispute, denied those claims, and so did Azerbaijan.

Hikmet Hajiyev, an aide to Azerbaijani President Ilkham Aliyev, told reporters via teleconference on Wednesday that the incident involved two Armenian SU-25 planes that reportedly crashed into a mountain, rather than an F-16 downing a SU-25.

Exclusive: Official at Center of Armenia, Azerbaijan Conflict Calls It Fight to Death

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Armenia on Wednesday continued to allege Turkey was involved in the conflict, saying Turkish drones and F-16s were being used in Nagorno-Karabakh.

© Provided by Associated Press A local resident walks in an apartment building that was allegedly damaged by recent shelling during fighting over the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh in Tartar region, Azerbaijan, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2020. Leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia brushed off the suggestion of peace talks Tuesday, accusing each other of obstructing negotiations over the separatist territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, with dozens killed and injured in three days of heavy fighting. (AP Photo/Aziz Karimov)

Armenia’s Foreign Ministry demanded “immediate withdrawal of the Turkish armed forces, including the air force, from the conflict zone.”

© Provided by Associated Press A man points to a crater that was allegedly caused by shelling during fighting over the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh, in Tartar region, Azerbaijan, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2020. Leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia brushed off the suggestion of peace talks Tuesday, accusing each other of obstructing negotiations over the separatist territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, with dozens killed and injured in three days of heavy fighting. (AP Photo/Aziz Karimov)

“The provocative actions of the Turkish armed forces seriously undermine the regional security and hinder the efforts of the international community to cease the hostilities,” a ministry statement said.

Nagorno Karabakh: Missiles, rockets and accusations fly as flare-up burns into second week

Armenia and Azerbaijan accused each other Monday of further missile and rocket attacks against civilian populations, as the newly reignited conflict over the enclave of Nagorno Karabakh enters its second week. require(["medianetNativeAdOnArticle"], function (medianetNativeAdOnArticle) { medianetNativeAdOnArticle.getMedianetNativeAds(true); }); Authorities in the region, which is inside Azerbaijan's borders but enjoys de facto independence and has an Armenian majority, said that its capital Stepanakert came under intense rocket fire Monday.

Turkey’s Defense Ministry dismissed claims that Turkey’s planes and drones were deployed to help Azerbaijan as propaganda by Armenia. The ministry said Armenia sought to increase international support “by creating the perception” that it was fighting Turkey.

© Provided by Associated Press This preview image of an AP digital embed shows the separatist territory of Nagorno-Karabakh between Armenia and Azerbaijan. (AP Digital Embed)

Meanwhile, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Wednesday that if Azerbaijan requests assistance, Ankara will provide it.

“We have said that if Azerbaijan wants to solve this on the field, we will stand by Azerbaijan. If Azerbaijan makes a request, we would do the necessary. But we see that Azerbaijan has sufficient capacity,” Cavusoglu told the Anadolu news agency.

© Provided by Associated Press This photo released by Armenian Foreign Ministry on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2020, shows the wreckage of an Armenian air forces warplane on a hill in the self-proclaimed Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh near the town of Vardenis, Armenia. The conflict escalated on Tuesday, with Armenia alleging Turkish involvement and claiming that a Turkish F-16 fighter jet shot down an SU-25 from its air force in Armenian airspace, killing the pilot. Turkey, which has been vocal about siding with Azerbaijan in the dispute, denied those claims, and so did Azerbaijan. (Armenian Foreign Ministry via AP)

Earlier this week, Armenian officials also claimed that Turkey sent fighters from Syria to Azerbaijan. Turkish officials rejected the accusation, and Azerbaijan's president dismissed it as “fake news.”

However, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, said Wednesday that so far some 850 Syrian fighters have arrived in Azerbaijan and hundreds more were expected to arrive there in the coming days. Three had been killed in fighting, the activists said.

Armenia's Prime Minister Accuses Turkey of 'Reinstating the Ottoman Empire' in Sending Mercenaries to Nagorno Karabakh

The revival of the 30-year conflict threatens to engulf Armenia and Azerbaijan in all-out warIn fact, the battle already threatens to bleed beyond the mountainous 1700-square mile enclave in the South Caucasus to engulf Azerbaijan and Armenia in all-out war, and risks provoking an even wider conflagration. In an interview with TIME, Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan doubled down on accusations that its bitter rival Turkey is already intervening militarily on behalf of Azerbaijan, claiming President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is vying to extend his influence in the region.

© Provided by Associated Press Protesters hold Armenian flags during a demonstration in support of Armenia outside of the U.S. embassy in the Cypriot capital Nicosia, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2020. Armenian Cypriots took part in the demonstration to show their support to Armenian armed forces locked in heavy fighting with Azerbaijani forces over the separatist region of Nagorno-Karabakh. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)

The Russian Foreign Ministry on Wednesday expressed concerns over reports about “militants from illegal armed groups, in particular from Syria, Libya” being sent to the conflict zone in Nagorno-Karabakh.

The ministry didn't clarify which country may have sent the fighters or which country the fighters may have arrived in, but in a statement urged “leadership of the states concerned to take effective measures to prevent the use of foreign terrorists and mercenaries in the conflict."

© Provided by Associated Press A boy holds a placard during a demonstration in support of Armenia outside of the U.S. embassy in the Cypriot capital Nicosia on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2020. Armenian Cypriots took part in the demonstration to show their support for Armenian armed forces locked in heavy fighting with Azerbaijani forces over the separatist region of Nagorno-Karabakh. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)

Meanwhile, European officials are seeking to bring the opposing sides to the negotiating table.

French President Emmanuel Macron, speaking on Wednesday at a news conference in Riga, Latvia, called for talks between France, Russia and the United States — the three countries co-chair the Minsk group, set up in 1992 by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to resolve the conflict — to mediate.

“I will speak to President (Vladimir) Putin tonight and, I think, President (Donald) Trump tomorrow to discuss and propose an exit strategy” for the crisis, Marcon said.

© Provided by Associated Press In this photo taken from a video released by the Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2020, Azerbaijan's forces attack Armenian army's tank during fighting in the self-proclaimed Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan. Heavy fighting between Armenian and Azerbaijani has continued for a fourth straight day as statements from both sides indicating that the flare-up of a decades-old conflict that has killed dozens of people this week was no closer to an end. (Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry via AP)

The French president also condemned recent comments from Turkey as “reckless and dangerous" and said he was "extremely preoccupied by the belligerent messages from Turkey in the past hours.”

Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias has called for an emergency meeting of the OSCE that would include Azerbaijan and Armenia to try and achieve a swift end to hostilities over Nagorno-Karabakh and a resumption of negotiations.

© Provided by Associated Press An elderly man shelters from shelling in a gym at a basements used as a bomb shelter in Stepanakert, self-proclaimed Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2020. Heavy fighting between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces over the separatist region of Nagorno-Karabakh continued for a fourth straight day on Wednesday, in the biggest escalation of a decades-old conflict in years that has killed dozens and left scores of others wounded. (Vahram Baghdasaryan/Photolure via AP)

“The escalation of tension in Nagorno-Karabakh has a serious impact on regional stability,” Dendias said and called on regional rival Turkey to end actions that would further escalate the conflict.

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Daria Litvinova in Moscow, Suzan Fraser in Ankara, Turkey, Sylvie Corbet in Paris and Bassem Mroue in Beirut contributed to this report.

© Provided by Associated Press People take refuge from shelling in a basements used as a bomb shelter in Stepanakert, self-proclaimed Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2020. Heavy fighting between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces over the separatist region of Nagorno-Karabakh continued for a fourth straight day on Wednesday, in the biggest escalation of a decades-old conflict in years that has killed dozens and left scores of others wounded. (Vahram Baghdasaryan/Photolure via AP) © Provided by Associated Press People take refuge from shelling in a basement used as a bomb shelter in Stepanakert, self-proclaimed Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2020. Heavy fighting between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces over the separatist region of Nagorno-Karabakh continued for a fourth straight day on Wednesday, in the biggest escalation of a decades-old conflict in years that has killed dozens and left scores of others wounded. (Vahram Baghdasaryan/Photolure via AP)