September 2022 Armenia–Azerbaijan clashes

September 2022 Armenia–Azerbaijan clashes
Part of the 2021–2022 Armenia–Azerbaijan border crisis
Locations of the skirmishes marked with red squares.
Date 12–14 September 2022 (2 days) Location Armenia–Azerbaijan border Status Ceasefire Territorial changes Per Armenia: Azerbaijan occupied 10 km2 of Armenian territory, advanced 7.5 km deep into Armenian territory towards Jermuk Per Azerbaijan: Azerbaijan captures strategic heights along the border
Belligerents
Azerbaijan	Armenia
Commanders and leaders
Ilham Aliyev (President, Commander-in-Chief) Zakir Hasanov (Minister of Defence)	Nikol Pashinyan (Prime Minister, Commander-in-Chief) Vahagn Khachaturyan (President) Suren Papikyan (Minister of Defence)
Units involved
Azerbaijani Armed Forces	Armed Forces of Armenia
Casualties and losses
Per Azerbaijan: 80 servicemen killed 281 servicemen wounded	Per Armenia: 202 servicemen killed or missing 293 servicemen wounded 20 servicemen captured Azerbaijani claim: 450 servicemen killed 2 S-300 launchers destroyed
3 Armenian civilians killed and 2 missing 7 Armenian and 3 Azerbaijani civilians injured

On 12 September 2022, Azerbaijan had attacked Armenian positions along the Armenia–Azerbaijan border and near the cities of Vardenis, Goris, Sotk, and Jermuk with artillery and heavy weapons. This marked a major escalation in the 2021–2022 Armenia–Azerbaijan border crisis and resulted in nearly 300 deaths and dozens injured from both sides at the third day of the shelling and Azerbaijan occupying certain areas of Armenia's territory, which were later confirmed by satellite images from NASA. The Azerbaijani Defence Ministry and Turkish media falsely claimed that Armenia had staged "large-scale provocations" near Azerbaijan, which was disproven by multiple third-party sources.

The clashes along the border stem mainly from the ongoing Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Russia said on 13 September that it had brokered a ceasefire, but both sides confirmed it was broken minutes after coming into effect. At least 204 Armenian servicemen were killed or missing, according to a report by Armenian prime minister Nikol Pashinyan. Azerbaijan acknowledged 80 fatalities among its forces, bringing total number of the killed to at least 214. On 14 September, Armenia and Azerbaijan brokered a new ceasefire.

The clashes erupted shortly after the Russian military suffered serious setbacks in the Ukrainian Kharkiv counteroffensive during its invasion of Ukraine, weakening its force projection in the region. Efforts by the European Union (EU) to secure more gas from Azerbaijan to compensate for the loss of imports from Russia also led to criticism of the EU's ability to fairly mediate the clashes.

Background

Main article: 2021–2022 Armenia–Azerbaijan border crisis

On 12 May 2021, Azerbaijani soldiers crossed several kilometers into Armenia in the provinces of Syunik and Gegharkunik and occupied about 41 square kilometres (16 sq mi) of Armenian territory. The European Parliament, as well as the United States and France – two of the three co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – called on Azerbaijan to withdraw its troops from internationally recognised Armenian territory.

Further clashes took place in July 2021 and in November 2021, with casualties being reported from both sides. In a joint statement on 17 November 2021, EU rapporteurs called the military operation launched by Azerbaijan on 16 November 2021 the worst violation to date of the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh ceasefire agreement.

Timeline

12–13 September

A residential house in Jermuk (Vayots Dzor Province, Armenia) following Azerbaijani Armed Forces' attack on the town.

On the evening of 12 September, the Armenian Ministry of Defense reported that units of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces had started firing intensively with artillery and heavy weapons in the direction of Armenian positions and civilian areas in Goris, Artanish, Sotk, Jermuk, Kapan, and Ishkhanasar. The Armenian MoD also mentioned that the Azerbaijani side had used UAVs, and was undertaking positional advancement operations in some directions. The Azerbaijani Defence Ministry said that Armenia had staged "large-scale provocations" near the Dashkasan, Kalbajar, and Lachin regions and had laid mines along the army's supply roads. The Azerbaijani MoD reported that they were taking measures to "suppress the firing points of the Armenian armed forces and to prevent the expansion of the scale of the confrontation".

Russia announced on 13 September that it had brokered a ceasefire, but both sides confirmed that it was broken minutes after coming into effect.

On 13 September at 14:00, the Armenian MoD announced that the situation in some parts of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border continues to be extremely tense as Azerbaijan continues to attempt positional advances, particularly in the direction of Nerkin Hand, Verin Shorzha, Artanish and Sotk. The Armenian MFA also stated that as a result of Azerbaijani shelling, many residential houses were damaged in the village of Kut, while women and children were evacuated. Armenia’s Health Ministry stated that three civillians had been injured as a result of Azerbaijani shelling on civillian areas on the first day of the attack. According to Armenian prime minister Nikol Pashinyan, at least 204 Armenian servicemen were killed or missing. The Azerbaijani MoD announced the death of 80 of its servicemen, 42 of whom were members of the Azerbaijani Army while 8 were from the State Border Service.

14–16 September

A fired missile in Sotk; a village in Armenia's Gegharkunik Province, that has been described as a ghost town after the entire population fled their homes due to shelling and infrastructural damage cause by Azerbaijan..

In the morning of 14 September, the Azerbaijani MoD reported that the Armenian Armed Forces had fired mortars and artillery at Azerbaijani army units stationed in the Kelbajar and Lachin directions during the night and that the army was taking "adequate retaliatory measures". The Armenian MoD called this "another disinformation" which "serves as an information base for carrying out military aggression against the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia". Armenian MoD also reported that Azerbaijan was shelling Jermuk and Verin Shorzha, using artillery, mortars and large-caliber small arms. At 11 a.m., the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense and the Prosecutor General's Office issued a joint statement claiming that two Azerbaijani civilians had been injured as a result of the Armenian Armed Forces' shelling.

Nikol Pashinyan said that Azerbaijan had taken control over certain areas of Armenian territory. Pashinyan added that Armenia had applied to Article 4 of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) for the first time in Armenian history.

On that same day, an Armenian security official said that they agreed to a ceasefire between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

According to The Moscow Times, Putin rejected Armenian PM Pashinyan's request for military assistance: Armenia is a party to the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization, the members of which have taken the obligation to assist each other in case of military aggression.

On 16 September, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev told Putin that the escalation has been stabilized.

According to an Armenian MP, Armenia has regained control over six previously lost positions on the border.

Alleged misconduct

Azerbaijan is holding at least 7 Armenian POWs, but video evidence suggests the number to be higher.

The footage circulating on Telegram depicts a female Armenian soldier who was mutilated by Azerbaijani forces. The video shows the woman naked, with words written across her breasts and stomach. A stone has been inserted in her eye socket, and a severed finger has been placed in her mouth. The General Staff of the Armenian Armed Forces states that "the Azerbaijani armed forces committed atrocities after infiltrating into Armenia’s territory; they have dismembered a woman service member, cut off her legs, fingers and stripped her naked".

Armenia accused Azerbaijan of killing another POW in captivity. Davit Gishian, a POW who was seen injured and being insult on an amateur video spread on Azerbaijani social media, was among the bodies of soldiers returned to the Armenian side.

Infrastructure damage

A residential apartment in Jermuk shelled by the Azerbaijani army.

According to the preliminary data published by Armenia's Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure, as a result of Azerbaijani shelling, 192 residential houses were damaged in the Armenian provinces of Syunik, Gegharkunik and Vayots Dzor with 60 of them being completely damaged. Human Rights Defender of Armenia stated that more than 7,500 people had been displaced from their homes. On September 14, it was reported that Azerbaijani missiles had also struck a Russian FSB office in Gegharkunik Province.

On September 13, Armenia's Emergency Situations Ministry spokesperson reported that Azerbaijan's shelling caused forest fires in Jermuk. At a UN Security Council meeting, Armenia's permanent representative Mher Margaryan condemned Azerbaijan's attack on Jermuk saying: "The shelling of the resort town of Jermuk, which has absolutely no military targets is nothing short of war crime, and so are the strikes against the Kechut water reservoir, with potentially catastrophic human toll and environmental impact". On September 16, the heads of diplomatic missions and international organizations accredited in Armenia arrived in Jermuk to get acquainted with the consequences of the shellings.

Effects

Cancelled events

In Azerbaijan, in connection with the death of the military personnel of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces, solemn events dedicated to the "Knowledge Day" and "National Music Day" were canceled, the Azerbaijan Weightlifting Championship among youth was postponed. Upcoming concerts of Ukrainian singers Max Barskih and Tina Karol were cancelled in Azerbaijan after the two artists expressed their support to Armenia on their Instagram accounts. Barskih stated that "any country that launches aggression against another country is no place for my concerts".

Protests in Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh

Protests in front of National Assembly of Armenia, 13 September 2022

On 14 September, protests erupted in Armenia's capital, Yerevan, and in Stepanakert, the capital of the self-proclaimed Republic of Artsakh calling for Nikol Pashinyan's resignation over his statements about a potential peace agreement with Azerbaijan, adding that the deal would cause them to be "criticized, cursed, called traitors".

In Yerevan, protesters attempted to take down a barrier and access the parliament building, but were prevented by authorities, who decided to weld the gate. One opposition leader, Karin Tonoyan, urged protesters to start blockading government buildings and also issued a call for a nationwide strike. The protesters chanted "Nikol the traitor". Protesters near Yerevan's parliament building called on deputies to come to their offices and impeach Pashinyan. Former Armenian Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan reported that 35 opposition MPs signed a document to begin the impeachment procedure against Pashinyan. On the night of 15 September, opposition MPs proceeded to the parliament building to begin the impeachment process against Pashinyan, and were joined by demonstrators. Protests were also held in the second largest city of Armenia, Gyumri, where the protest was much smaller and quieter.

In Stepanakert, thousands of protesters gathered to demand the resignation of the government in Armenia. The president of the self-proclaimed republic, Arayik Harutyunyan, responded to the protests by making a statement in which he rejected the prospect of Nagorno-Karabakh being part of Azerbaijan under any status, saying "the people of Artsakh decide their own destiny in their own homeland". He later added assurances that the negotiation process was not at a stage where a document would be signed any time soon, and affirmed that he had an agreement with the Armenian government that any such document signed by them "must take into account Artsakh's interests and the opinion of the people of the republic".

Sports

On September 15, Qarabağ FK requested from UEFA that a minute of silence to be observed in honor of the fallen Azerbaijani soldiers during the Europa League group stage match against FC Nantes in Baku. The head of the press service of the club, Gunduz Abbaszadeh, stated that such a move was not allowed by UEFA. Following that, the team's largest fan group, İmarət Tayfa, published a statement calling on everyone to observe a minute of silence after the starting whistle to respect the memories of the deceased Azerbaijani soldiers. It was quickly distributed to a large number of users on the social network. Despite UEFA's ruling, approximately 30,000 spectators turned on their phones' flashlights and observed a minute of silence following the starting whistle.

Analysis

Motive

Laurence Broers, an associate fellow at the Russia and Eurasia Programme of Chatham House, said that Azerbaijan was the aggressor, noting a possible sentiment in Azerbaijan of an opportunity to deploy its military strength to achieve its goals. He stated a risk existed of new buffer zones being established that would practically fragment Armenia and criticized outside actors for an inability to prevent the conflict and stop that negative outcome.

Asbarez, an Armenian-American newspaper, reported that Azerbaijan's aim was to establish a land corridor to its Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic exclave and neighbouring Turkey, effectively taking over the Armenia-Iran border. Iran warned the leaders of Russia and Turkey that it would oppose any such action to change its border with Armenia.

Reactions

Countries

Nancy Pelosi during a meeting with Ministry of Defence of Armenia on September 18.

• United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed concern over the clashes and urged both nations to end new hostilities immediately, followed by a phone call with Ilham Aliyev to express concern over conflict along the Armenia–Azerbaijan border, including Azerbaijani shelling in Armenia, and asked President Aliyev to cease Azerbaijani hostilities.
  • Spokesperson for the United States Department of State Ned Price stated that the U.S. was reviewing evidence of Azerbaijani shelling inside Armenia, which has caused "significant damage to Armenian infrastructure," and stressed the need for both parties to end hostilities and agree to a broader de-escalation.
  • During the clashes, U.S. House of Representatives speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Yerevan, on 17 September, meeting Nikol Pashinyan and other top officials of Armenia. She announced a visit to the Armenian capital of Yerevan as a show of support to the country. Additionally, the Armenian government has stated that the latest ceasefire was reached in large part thanks to the intervention of the United States. In an interview to television, the speaker of the parliament of Armenia underscored the importance of the role the US played in stabilizing the situation. Pelosi released a statement condemning the "illegal and deadly attacks by Azerbaijan" which "threatens prospects for a much-needed peace agreement."
• Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu condemned "Armenian aggression" and the new Armenian offensive against Azerbaijan, and voiced support for further negotiations.

• The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on both parties to adhere to the Russian-brokered ceasefire of 13 September. It refrained from saying who Russia saw as responsible for the escalation. It also stated that the dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan should be resolved through purely political and diplomatic means.

• French President Emmanuel Macron called on Azerbaijan to return to an observance of the ceasefire agreement and respect the integrity of Armenia. France raised the conflict as a topic of discussion at the UN Security Council.

• The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus condemned the Azerbaijani assault against Armenian positions.

• The Ministry of External Affairs of India called upon "the aggressor side to immediately cease hostilities".

• The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Mukhtar Tleuberdi released a statement saying "We must proceed from the fact that the border between Azerbaijan and Armenia is not delimited, so it's hard to talk about any violation of the border".
• China's Permanent Representative to the UN Zhang Jun urged restraint in the conflict and called for a resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue based on mutual dialogue.

• Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian told a representative from Azerbajian that the border between Iran and Armenia must remain unchanged and called on both sides to show restraint.

Organizations

• The Secretary General of the Organization of Turkic States expressed concern and condemned the Armenian provocation of the hostilities. It also called on Armenia to comply with the ongoing agreements reached between the two countries.

• The Chair of European Parliament Delegation for relations with the South Caucasus (DSCA) issued a statement on the what it called Azerbaijani aggression against Armenia, strongly condemning the "large-scale military attack" of Azerbaijani forces against targets in Armenian territory. A Joint statement by leading MEPs condemned the military confrontations and urged Azerbaijan to immediately end its offensive operations and respect Armenian territorial sovereignty.

• Freedom House called on Azerbaijan to "cease their deadly attacks" on Armenian targets and return to peace negotiations, stating that "military attacks on sovereign nations have no place in the rules-based international order".

• Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention, which had issued a red flag alert for Azerbaijan's "genocidal ideology and practices" in August 2022, condemned Azerbaijan for its "war of aggression".

See also

• Armenia–Azerbaijan relations
• List of conflicts between Azerbaijan and Armenia