Clashes to force the adversary to an agreement or a prelude to a new phase of military confrontation? The region experienced, Monday, November 15, the most serious incident between Armenia and Azerbaijan, since the end of the war in Nagorno-Karabakh a year ago. “An attack by Azerbaijani forces against the positions of the Armenian forces left the Armenian side dead and injured”, said the Armenian defense ministry, in a press release, without giving any figures. Yerevan admitted the death of a soldier on Tuesday, while other sources mention fifteen dead. Twelve soldiers were captured by Azerbaijan. Armenia has lost two positions on its border with Azerbaijan, which claims, for its part, to deplore only two wounded soldiers.
In Baku, we talk about “Armenian military provocations” against its positions, followed by ” counter attack “. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliev is wearing “All responsibility” of the situation “To the military-political leaders of Armenia”. The Armenian Defense Ministry released a video showing the destruction, by a guided missile, of an Azerbaijani military truck that had just crossed the demarcation line between the two countries. Images filmed on the Azerbaijani side and disseminated on social networks show infantrymen supported by armored vehicles advancing in front of retreating Armenian soldiers.
Yerevan has requested military assistance from Moscow, its ally in the Collective Security Treaty Organization (which includes Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan). “Since Azerbaijan attacked the sovereign territory of Armenia, we call on Russia to defend the territorial integrity of Armenia”said Armenian Security Council secretary Armen Grigorian.
Concert of international reactions
Late Tuesday afternoon, the two belligerents agreed to a new ceasefire under the aegis of Moscow. Russia, which supplies arms to the two enemies, had already negotiated in 2020 the end of the forty-four days of war between its former Soviet satellites. Azerbaijan, with Turkish military support, then regained control of Nagorno-Karabakh, encircling Armenian forces; Armenia retaining only two thirds of the region.
On the defensive against a Turkey advancing its pawns in the southern Caucasus, Russia has (officially) deployed two thousand soldiers of its peacekeeping forces on the Nagorno-Karabakh contact line, that is, say inside the internationally recognized territory of Azerbaijan. An already insufficient contingent to prevent the frequent murderous incidents between Armenians and Azerbaijanis in the enclave. However, there is no Russian intervention force on the 650 kilometers of border separating the two belligerent states (including the Nakhitchevan exclave). Border of which nearly half has still not been the subject of a precise delimitation agreed between Baku and Yerevan.
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