Azerbaijan: At least 32 killed in heavy fighting between Armenian army and Azerbaijani forces in Nagorno-Karabakh
Intense fighting has been reported in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh inside Azerbaijan, with heavy casualties reported on both sides and the OSCE expressing its “grave concern” at developments.
The Armenian military accused Azerbaijani forces of launching a major offensive, involving tanks, heavy artillery, and helicopter gunships.
The Azerbaijani military said its frontline forces had first come under “intensive fire” from mortars, grenade launchers, and artillery and that the Azerbaijani Army had to take “urgent measures” to respond.
The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said that 12 soldiers had died in the fighting. It said one Mi-24 helicopter was shot down and that one tank had been destroyed in a mine explosion.
The ministry claimed the army had “liberated strategic heights and settlements” in the region.
“Six Armenian tanks were destroyed [and] more than 100 Armenian servicemen were killed and injured,” it said in a statement.