Border Flare-Up: Armenia Reports 4 Killed by Azerbaijan

Armenia and Azerbaijan accused each other of initiating a border clash on Tuesday that resulted in the deaths of at least four Armenian soldiers, heightening tensions between the two South Caucasus nations.

The Armenian Foreign Ministry labeled the incident as a deliberate act by Azerbaijani forces, who allegedly attacked Armenian troops in the Syunik region to the east. This attack led to four Armenian military personnel being killed and another injured. Armenia called on Azerbaijan to stop actions that could lead to further instability in the region.

In response, Azerbaijan’s State Border Service claimed the attack was a countermeasure to Armenian artillery fire on Azerbaijani positions the day before, which injured an Azerbaijani soldier. The service warned that any future Armenian provocations would face stern and decisive responses, holding Armenia entirely accountable for the escalation.

The conflict comes against a backdrop of longstanding territorial disputes between the two countries, particularly over the Karabakh region. Azerbaijan recaptured parts of this region, which had been under ethnic Armenian control for three decades, through military operations in recent years, including a significant six-week conflict in 2020 and a rapid military assault in September that led to the surrender of separatist forces.

This recent military success bolstered Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s political standing, evidenced by his overwhelming victory in a snap election last week.

Despite commitments from both nations to negotiate a peace treaty, mutual suspicions have stalled progress, and the latest border skirmish only adds to the ongoing tension. Armenia’s Foreign Ministry suggested that Azerbaijan is seeking reasons to escalate the situation and obstruct peace negotiations.