Azernews.Az

By Aisha Jabbarova

Armenian forces are shelling Azerbaijan’s Ganja city from Berd region in Armenia, the Defence Ministry reported on October 5.

Armenian forces today are also shelling Horadiz city in Fuzuli region, villages in Aghjabadi region, Tartar city and villages in Tartar region, Goranboy and Goygol regions.

“Armenian armed forces are attacking densely populated civilian areas in Ganja, Barda, Beylagan and some other cities of Azerbaijan with missiles and rockets. Barbarism and vandalism. Sign of weakness and panic of Armenia's political-military leadership. #AzerbaijanStrong,” Hajiyev wrote in his Twitter account on October 5.

Armenian forces on October 4 launched a missile attack on Ganja, Azerbaijan’s second largest city with a population of over 330,000.

One civilian was killed and four other were injured as the city went under fire from rockets and shelling.

The city located 60 km from the border with Armenia was heavily damaged during the attack, the Defence Ministry said in a statement posted in its website.

"Indiscriminate missile attacks are launched against Ganja, Füzuli, Tartar and Jabrayil cities of Azerbaijan from territory of Armenia. Ganja is the second biggest city of Azerbaijan. 500.000+ population," Presidential Aide Hikmet Hajiyev said in a tweet.

The Defence Ministry’s press service reported that the Armenian attack destroyed civilian infrastructure and ancient historical buildings in the city. The ministry denied Armenian reports on alleged shelling of military facilities.

By attacking Ganja, Armenia started the military campaign against cities that are far beyond the conflict zone.

Azerbaijan’s Defence Minister Zakir Hasanov said on October 4 that attacking Azerbaijani territory from Armenia is “an open provocation that expands the war zone.”

Military expert Ramil Mammadli has said the attack on Ganja and Mingachevir cities was launched with "Smerch" heavy multiple rocket launcher.

"The missiles fired by Armenia are designed to engage a target at a distance of 40 to 120 km. The use of these weapons is contrary to international conventions... Azerbaijan must destroy the firing points of these missiles.

“By these actions, Armenia provokes Azerbaijan into a full-scale war… Losing positions one after another, Armenia is targeting the civilian population, thinking that the Azerbaijani army will stop military operations. But the Azerbaijani Armed Forces, continuing the process, will inflict serious blows to the Armenian forces,” the analyst noted.

Armenian forces also subjected to artillery shelling civilians in different directions of Azerbaijan's Beylagan city on October 4. Two civilians were killed during the attacks.

Azerbaijan’s Mingachevir city, Khizi and Absheron region also came under Armenian attack on the same day.

So far, 24 Azerbaijani civilians have been killed and over 100 have been injured in Armenian attacks on Azerbaijani civilian areas.