According to the statement, sabotage units of the Armenian Armed Forces mined the territories between the positions of the Azerbaijani Army units and supply roads in various directions in the night time, taking advantage of the mountainous terrain and ravines.
As a result of urgent measures taken by our troops to prevent these actions, a firefight took place.
Some of the positions, shelters and strongpoints of the Azerbaijani Army in the territory of Dashkesan, Kalbajar and Lachin districts came under heavy fire, including mortar fire, from the units of the Armenian Armed Forces, resulting in losses among the personnel and damage to the military infrastructure.
In order to thwart the provocations on the part the Armenian Armed Forces and military threats to the territory and sovereignty of Azerbaijan, as well as to ensure the safety of the military personnel and civilians involved in the infrastructure works in Kalbajar and Lachin districts, the units of the Azerbaijani army stationed in this area are taking strong retaliatory action.
Necessary measures are being taken to suppress the firing points of the Armenian Armed Forces and to prevent the expansion of the scale of hostilities.
The units of the Armenian Armed Forces involved in the sabotage operations have suffered losses in personnel and military equipment.
Overall, the provocations by the Armenian armed forces in the Lachin, Gadabay, Dashkesan and Kalbajar sections of the state border, as well as the targeting of the positions of the Azerbaijani army in these areas with various types of weapons, have been intense and regular over the past month. At the same time, Armenia has been observed concentrating offensive weaponry, heavy artillery and manpower along Azerbaijan’s borders.
All these facts once again show that Armenia is preparing for a large-scale military provocation.
Through these actions, Armenia also seeks to slow down the implementation of Azerbaijan’s large-scale civilian infrastructure projects in the border districts liberated from occupation and to maintain the tension near Azerbaijan’s borders.
We reiterate that the military and political leadership of Armenia bears full responsibility for the provocation, the conflict and the losses.
The public will be informed of the situation.
