At least 200 killed in Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict; Azerbaijan launches missile attacks on Russian military base

Yerevan/Moscow: – More than 200 people have been killed in the violence between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the past 24 hours. A piece of shocking news came out on Tuesday of the Azerbaijani army launching missile attacks on the Russian security base in Armenia. Russia has not yet responded. However, as per Russian media, their troops have already started to march toward Armenia. Officials of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), which includes Russia, the US, and European countries, have also arrived in Armenia.

The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan has been intensifying since Monday midnight. The clashes, confined to the Armenia-Azerbaijan borders for the past 24 hours, are raging in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh. The Armenian government claimed to have killed at least 50 Azerbaijani soldiers, whereas Azerbaijan’s media claims to have targeted 150 Armenian soldiers. However, these claims from both countries could not be confirmed.

News Agency in Armenia published shocking photographs of the attack on Wednesday. On Tuesday night, Azerbaijan’s military launched a missile attack on the Russian security base in Armenia’s Gegharkunik province. The Russian intelligence agency Federal Service Bureau-FSB and Russian soldiers stationed at the base were evacuated after receiving timely information about the missile attack. However, the news agency claimed that Russian bases, vehicles, and some weapons were heavily damaged in the attack.

Azerbaijan denied the allegations made by the Armenian news agency. However, the photographs shared by Armenian news depict a different situation. Azerbaijan, realising Russia’s engagement in war with Ukraine, decided to attack Armenia in March to gain control over the Farooq region of Nagorno-Karabakh. International analysts are highlighting that since August, Azerbaijan has intensified its attacks on Armenia.

Russia has not yet responded to missile attacks by Azerbaijan on its military base in Armenia. However, Russian President Vladimir Putin immediately convened a Collective Security Organization meeting (CSTO) meeting. Like NATO, in this military organisation, an attack on a member country can be treated as a reason to declare war on itself. Armenia is a member of this organisation. President Putin has ordered its officials and military group to leave for Armenia after Tuesday’s meeting.

Meanwhile, Azerbaijan’s attacks on Armenia are getting support from Turkey and Pakistan. The rest of the world is also coming together against these attacks by Azerbaijan. Without a direct mention of the country, India called on the aggressor country for an immediate ceasefire. However, the US and France have directly suggested that Azerbaijan stop the attacks on Armenia.