Azerbaijan: Two killed in alleged cross-border firing in Tovuz region July 12

Event

The Defense Ministry of Azerbaijan has stated that at least two soldiers were killed and five others were wounded following alleged cross-border artillery fire by Armenian forces targeting Azeri positions in the Tovuz region on Sunday, July 12. Authorities stated that Azeri forces engaged in retaliatory fire and inflicted losses on Armenian troops. The Armenian government has not commented on the incident.

Context

Azerbaijan and neighboring Armenia have a long-standing dispute over the possession of Nagorno-Karabakh, home to some 150,000 inhabitants (mostly ethnic Armenians) and located in the west of Azerbaijan. This issue has fueled tensions between the two countries since 1988; some 30,000 people were killed in fighting from 1990 to 1994. The two countries declared another ceasefire in April 2016 after the region experienced four days of violent clashes that left hundreds dead. Tensions between the two countries remain high.

Advice

Western governments generally advise their citizens against all travel to Nagorno-Karabakh and the Azerbaijan-Armenia border. Those in Azerbaijan are advised to monitor developments to the situation, and adhere to instructions issued by local authorities and their home governments.