Azerbaijan: Cross-border clashes continue in Tovuz region July 14 /update 2

Event

At least ten people have been killed as cross-border clashes between Azeri and Armenian forces continued for a third consecutive day in the Tovuz region on Tuesday, July 14. Azerbaijan's Ministry of Defense stated seven Azeri troops, including a major-general and colonel, were killed whilst the Armenian government stated that a major and a captain had been killed skirmishing between the two forces. At least one civilian was also killed in the fighting. The Armenian Foreign Ministry also stated that shelling had targeted the town of Berd and that they had destroyed Azeri positions in retaliatory fire. The Azerbaijan government claimed to have killed a number of Armenian troops and destroyed military equipment. Clashes have been ongoing in the area since Sunday, July 12.

Further clashes in the area are possible in the near term.

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.