Azernews.Az

By Nazrin Gadimova

Armenian Armed Forces continue to violate the truce on the contact line of troops in the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh region despite the achieved agreement on ceasefire.

Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry reported that the enemy broke the ceasefire 117 times over the last 24 hours.

Armenian armed forces, located in Armenia's Berkaber village of Ijevan region, Mosesgekh village of Berd region, nameless hills of Krasnoselsk region subjected to fire the positions of Azerbaijani armed forces located in nameless hills and Gizilhajili village of Gazakh region, Agdam village in Tovuz region and nameless hills of Gadabay region.

The ceasefire was violated in Gulustan village in Goranboy region, Chilaburt, Yarimja villages in Tartar region, Shikhlar, Javahirli, Sarijali, Kangarli, Novruzlu, Shuraabad, Garagashli, Yusifjanli and Marzili villages in Aghdam region, Kuropatkino village in Khojavand region, Garakhanbayli, Horadiz, Gorgan, Ashagi Seyidahmadli villages in Fuzuli region, Mehdili village of Jabrayil region, as well as nameless hills in Goygol, Goranboy, Khojavand, Fuzuli and Jabrayil regions.

In view of the operational situation, the Azerbaijani military units inflicted 120 strikes on enemy positions.

On the night of April 2, 2016, all the frontier positions of Azerbaijan were subjected to heavy fire from the Armenian side, which used large-caliber weapons, mortars and grenade launchers. The armed clashes resulted in deaths and injuries among the Azerbaijani population. Azerbaijan responded with a counter-attack, which led to liberation of several strategic heights and settlements.

Military operations were stopped on the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian armies on Apr. 5 at 12:00 (UTC/GMT + 4 hours) with the consent of the sides, Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry earlier said. Ignoring the agreement, the Armenian side again started violating the ceasefire.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.

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Nazrin Gadimova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @NazrinGadimova

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