Armenia and Azerbaijan War 2020

 

Armenia and Azerbaijan War 2020

Background of the war

Armenia and Azerbaijan are neighbours. These states share the border with Iran, Turkey, Russia and Georgia. Both these states got independence from the former Soviet Union. Since independence, both Armenia and Azerbaijan are in conflict over a disputed region known as Nagorno-Karabakh. Nagorno-Karabakh is ethnical dominated by Armenian but is also home to Muslim Turks. Nagorno-Karabakh is recognised as part of Azerbaijan but controlled by ethnic Armenian since the end 1994 war between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The ethnic Armenian majority in the region fought a bloody war of secession from Azerbaijan as the Soviet Union fell apart three decades ago. Thousand of people died in the war and a million others were displaced from their home.

Beginning of the war

Authorities have reported on Sunday that a war broke out between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh region. Both sides reported heavy losses and blame each other for escalating the war. Both countries have mobilized their soldiers and declared martial law in some areas.

Other countries are concerned that the fight may spill out to the neighbouring countries which include Turkey, Iran and Russian. All of the three powers have competed for dominance in the region. Another reason for concern is that major gas and oil pipeline pass through the area. If the tensions escalate, the region may witness the energy crisis. 

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Other countries response to Armenia and Azerbaijan War

Turkey and Pakistan have declared their support to Azerbaijan while Russia has a military base in Armenia but also have friendly relation with Azerbaijan. Russian has called upon both sides to immediately declare a ceasefire and solve the problem through dialogue. 

Turkey is accused by Aremina of providing military support to Azerbaijan to help it control the territory. This claim is denied by Azerbaijan.

President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called upon Aremina to immediately withdraw from the region and end the occupation of the territory which he said is the only way of securing peace.

Armenia and Azerbaijan perspective of the conflict

Armenia foreign minister accused Azerbaijan of sabotaging the peaceful settlement of the dispute and said Armenia will defend the region. While the officials of Azerbaijan, says they are taking countermeasures against the provocation of Armenia. 

Latest updates from the battleground

The authorities on Monday reported 16 people death in Nagorno-Karabakh and said that more than 100 people are wounded.

Armenian officials said that 200 Armenians were wounded during the recent war with Azerbaijan. 

Azerbaijan reported two Azeri civilians were killed on Monday, following the deaths of five people from the same family died on Sunday. It also added that 30 civilians were wounded during the ongoing war.

Nagorno-Karabakh officials claimed that their forces had recaptured some territory taken by Azeri troops on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Azerbaijan's government announced on Monday that it had seized strategically important locations in the disputed region.

International Reaction to Aremina Azerbaijan War

• UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was "extremely concerned", pushing both parties to end fighting
• Russia's foreign minister held crucial talks both with the Armenian and Azeri leadership and encouraged both the parties to hold ceasefire and start peace negotiations.
• France also called for an immediate ceasefire and urge both the States to start the dialogue.
• Iran bordering both Azerbaijan and Armenia proposed to broker peace talks
• President Donald Trump said the US was endeavouring to halt the violence between Armenia and Azerbaijan.