Azerbaijan's army holds large-scale exercises on frontline
By Jamila Babayeva
Azerbaijan's armed forces launched large-scale exercises in a zone near the contact line of Azerbaijani and Armenian troops on July 7, the Defense Ministry reported.
The large-scale exercises of Defense Ministry's divisions and units were held on the frontline as part of a joint operational and tactical exercise being held under the leadership of Azerbaijani President and Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev.
The new stage of the exercises was focused on issues relating to the combat training of the units, formations and detachments, marching ability of the servicemen, military employment, as well as the mutual coordination of the combat elements and their practical use in accordance with the conditions of the territory.
The exercises carried out under the direct leadership of the Defense Minister, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov, involved over 10,000 people from the personnel, over 300 armored vehicles, over 100 artillery systems, 20 aircraft systems and more than 15 air defense systems.
Armored vehicles, artillery systems, anti-aircraft missile systems, weapons of various calibers, aircraft and helicopters were practically used during the exercises.
Over 3,000 reserve servicemen were called up for the military exercises by the local administrations and departments of the State Service for Mobilization and Conscription, in accordance with the order of the Defense Ministry.
Arrangements of their military registrations were made earlier. Officials had also developed plans for mobilization of forces.
At the same time, the army held training courses to keep up the moral of those called up for the exercises.
The exercises will be completed on July 10 with a general meeting of the exercises' leadership and the command staff in Baku.
The military units and sections of the Azerbaijani army launched the military drills from April 29.
In-mid April, the Azerbaijani armed forces staged large-scale exercises in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, which is under the blockade for over 20 years due to the Armenian occupation of Azerbaijani territories.
On June 26, the joint operational and tactical exercise of the Ministry of Defense, Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and units and detachments of the State Border Service was held on the occasion of the 96th anniversary of the establishment of the armed forces of Azerbaijan. President Aliyev closely watched the exercise of the Azerbaijani armed forces.