Second Nagorno-Karabakh War

2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
Part of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
Armenia   Former NKAO controlled by Artsakh   Surrounding area controlled by Artsakh   Claimed by Artsakh but controlled by Azerbaijan   Rest of Azerbaijan   Reportedly captured by Azerbaijan (For a more detailed map, see military situation in the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict)
Date 27 September – 10 October 2020 (1 week and 6 days) Location Nagorno-Karabakh, Armenia–Azerbaijan border Status Ceasefire Azerbaijan claims victory Territorial changes Azerbaijan claims to have captured 34 settlements; including Cəbrayil, Hadrut, Madagiz and Talış, and several heights including Murovdag. Artsakh claims it has conducted a "tactical withdrawal" from some areas, mainly in southern front, and to have recaptured some territory, including strategic heights
Belligerents
Azerbaijan Syrian mercenaries Supported by: Turkey Arms suppliers: Israel	Artsakh Armenia Armenian diaspora volunteers Arms suppliers: Russia
Commanders and leaders
Ilham Aliyev (President, Commander-in-Chief) Col. Gen. Zakir Hasanov (Minister of Defence) Col. Gen. Najmaddin Sadigov (Chief of the General Staff) Maj. Gen. Mais Barkhudarov Maj. Gen. Hikmat Mirzayev (Commander of the Special Forces) Maj. Gen. Hikmat Hasanov (Commander of the 1st Army Corps)	Arayik Harutyunyan (President, Commander-in-Chief) Jalal Harutyunyan (Minister of Defence) Col. Karen Jalavyan (Field Commander) Col. Sergey Shakaryan (Field Commander) Nikol Pashinyan (Prime Minister, Commander-in-Chief) David Tonoyan (Minister of Defence)
Units involved
Azerbaijani Armed Forces Syrian mercenaries Hamza Division Sultan Murad Division	Artsakh Defence Army Armed Forces of Armenia
Strength
Unknown regular military 1,450 Syrian fighters Units: Unknown number of Bayraktar TB2 Unknown number of IAI Harop Unknown number of Orbiter 1K	Unknown
Casualties and losses
Per Azerbaijan: Undisclosed Units: One combat helicopter damaged Per Armenia: 4,369 servicemen and Syrian mercenaries killed Units: 508 armoured fighting vehicles destroyed 162 UAVs downed 17 aircraft downed 16 helicopters downed 4 BM-30 Smerch destroyed 4 SU aircraft downed Per other sources: Unknown servicemen killed 107 Syrian mercenaries killed (SOHR)	Per Armenia: 404 servicemen killed Units: 1 Su-25 downed Per Azerbaijan: 2,300+ servicemen killed or wounded Units: 16 command posts destroyed 196 tanks destroyed 36 IFVs destroyed 150 other military vehicles destroyed 1 BM-27 Uragans destroyed 2 S-300s destroyed 10 self-propelled artillery units destroyed 24 artillery batteries destroyed 136 cannons destroyed 56 mortars destroyed 25 9K33 Osas destroyed 2 2K12 Kubs destroyed 1 TOS-1 A destroyed 1 Kolchuga destroyed 18 UAVs downed 2 radar stations destroyed 8 armories destroyed 18 tanks captured 4 artillery pieces captured 22 IFVs captured 12 mortars captured 4 UAZ vehicles captured 1 excavator captured 27 Igla MANPAD systems captured 1 Zil captured 9 GAZ vehicles captured
31 Azerbaijani and 22 Armenian civilians killed 171 Azerbaijani and 95 Armenian civilians injured 2 French and 3 Russian journalists injured 1 Iranian civilian injured from stray fire 70–75,000 Armenians displaced (per Artsakh)

The 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict was an armed conflict between the armed forces of Azerbaijan and the self-proclaimed Republic of Artsakh, together with Armenia in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, and was the latest escalation of the unresolved Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

The clashes began on the morning of 27 September 2020 along the Nagorno-Karabakh Line of Contact. Both sides reported military and civilian casualties. In response to the clashes, Armenia and Artsakh introduced martial law and total mobilization, while Azerbaijan introduced martial law and a curfew. On 28 September, partial mobilization was declared in Azerbaijan.

Numerous countries and the United Nations strongly condemned the conflict and called on both sides to deescalate tensions and resume meaningful negotiations without delay. Turkey provided military support to Azerbaijan, although the extent of its support is disputed.

International analysts believe that fighting was probably initiated by Azerbaijan, and that primary goals for its offensive were likely to capture districts in southern Nagorno-Karabakh that are less mountainous and thus easier to take than the well-fortified interior of the region. Turkey's support for Azerbaijan was thought to be an attempt to extend its sphere of influence both by increasing the standing of Azerbaijan in the conflict and by marginalizing Russia's influence over the region.

A humanitarian ceasefire brokered by Russia, facilitated by the International Committee of the Red Cross, and agreed to by both Armenia and Azerbaijan, formally came into effect on 10 October.

Background

Further information: Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and Nagorno-Karabakh War

The clashes are part of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, a dispute over Nagorno-Karabakh with the ethnic Armenians in the majority, a disputed region in the South Caucasus between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Nagorno-Karabakh is a de jure part of Azerbaijan, but is de facto held by the self-proclaimed Republic of Artsakh, which is supported by Armenia. Ethnic violence began in the late 1980s, and exploded into a full war following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991. The Nagorno-Karabakh War ended with a ceasefire in 1994, with the Republic of Artsakh controlling the Nagorno-Karabakh region, as well as the surrounding districts of Agdam, Jabrayil, Fuzuli, Kalbajar, Qubadli, Lachin and Zangilan of Azerbaijan. For three decades, multiple violations of the ceasefire have occurred, the most serious incidents prior to the current conflict being the 2016 Nagorno-Karabakh clashes. Long-standing international mediation attempts to create a peace process were initiated by the OSCE Minsk Group in 1994, with the interrupted Madrid Principles being the most recent iteration.

Skirmishes occurred on the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan in July 2020. Thousands of Azerbaijanis demonstrated for war against Armenia in response, with Turkey propagandising in support of Azerbaijan.

On 23 July 2020, Armenia announced the start of a joint air defence system exercise with Russia and an analysis of the July 2020 clashes. A week later, Azerbaijan conducted a series of military exercises that lasted from 29 July to 10 August, and further exercises in early September with the involvement of Turkey.

Turkey's support for Azerbaijan has been seen as connected to its expansionist, neo-Ottoman foreign policy, linking its intervention to its policies in Syria, Iraq, and the Eastern Mediterranean.

Prior to the resumption of hostilities, allegations emerged that hundreds of Syrian National Army members from the Hamza Division were transferred to Azerbaijan, while Turkish media close to President Erdogan claimed that YPG and PKK members from Iraq and Syria were transferred to Nagorno-Karabakh in order to train Armenian militias against Azerbaijan. The governments of both Azerbaijan and Armenia have denied allegations of involvement by foreign fighters.

Timeline of military engagements

Main article: Timeline of military engagements in the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict

This timeline of engagements relies primarily on official statements from belligerents. The engagements have been characterised by the use of heavy artillery, armoured warfare, rocket attacks, and drone warfare, as well as by emerging accounts of the use of cluster munitions, banned by most of the international community but not by Armenia or Azerbaijan. The amount of territory contested is relatively restricted, but the conflict has expanded beyond the borders of Nagorno-Karabakh due to the kind of munitions deployed and spilled over international borders. Shells and rockets have landed in East Azerbaijan Province in Iran, though causing no damage, and Iran has downed several unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), while Georgia stated that two UAVs crashed in Kakheti Province.

27 September

Stepanakert, the capital city of the Republic of Artsakh, has been heavily damaged by Azerbaijani shelling during the conflict.

According to the Office of the President of the Republic of Artsakh, hostilities commenced when at 08:03 Azerbaijani armed forces launched artillery and aerial strikes against civilian settlements, including the capital, Stepanakert. Authorities urged the population to seek cover in bomb shelters. An air-raid siren was turned on in Stepanakert. Azerbaijani authorities stated that at about 06:00 local time, Armenian armed forces started intensive shelling of Azerbaijani army positions along the entire front line and of nearby Azerbaijani settlements. Azerbaijan stated that the Armenian side had attacked and that Azerbaijan had launched a counteroffensive in response. Hikmet Hajiyev, senior adviser to Azerbaijan's president, Ilham Aliyev, accused Armenian forces of launching attacks along the front line.

The Armenian Ministry of Defence (MoD) stated that an Azerbaijani offensive, aimed at Stepanakert, began at 08:10 local time (04:10 GMT). In the offensive Azerbaijan stated it deployed manpower, tank and rocket artillery units, aircraft and UAVs. The Republic of Artsakh then introduced martial law and total mobilization of its male population. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev addressed the nation concerning the clashes. In the afternoon martial law and a curfew was introduced in Azerbaijan, with martial law effective from midnight, 28 September, while the curfew became effective in Baku, major cities and some regions from 21:00 to 06:00 local time. In the clashes the Azerbaijani military deployed tanks, artillery, missile systems and aircraft near the front and entered deeper into Nagorno-Karabakh. According to the Armenian MoD, in the morning Azerbaijani armed forces also attacked in the direction of Vardenis in Armenia proper.

By the afternoon, the Azerbaijani MoD stated it had taken seven villages in Nagorno-Karabakh: Garakhanbayli, Garvand, Horadiz, Yuxarı Əbdürrəhmanlı, Aşağı Əbdürrəhmanlı, Boyuk Marjanli and Nuzgar. The Artsakh Ministry of Defence denied these claims, accusing the Azerbaijani army of propagandising. At 16:29, the Azerbaijani MoD announced that the Azerbaijani Military Command proposed that the Armenian command in this zone surrender in order to avoid an attack on its garrison in Aghdara and reduce casualties, while affirming that civilians and prisoners of war would be treated in accordance with international humanitarian law and the Geneva Conventions and stating resistance would be met by force. In the afternoon, the Azerbaijani MoD stated it had taken a mountain peak in the Murovdag range. The Ministry also stated that Azerbaijani forces had taken effective control of the Vardenis–Martakert/Aghdara highway connecting Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia; the Armenian MoD denied these claims. Subsequently, the Azerbaijani MoD claimed that an Azerbaijani drone destroyed an Armenian military depot.

28 September

Murovdag peak (above) and Vardenis–Martakert/Aghdara M11 highway (below), which came under Azerbaijani control according to the country's defence ministry

At approximately 01:00, the Azerbaijani MoD released footage depicting three Armenian military vehicles being targeted on the line of contact by Azerbaijani strikes and accused Armenia of falsely propagandising in the face of claimed Azerbaijani successes. At approximately 08:00, the Ministry stated that Armenian forces had fired upon Tartar in the early morning and issued a warning in response, while the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) stated that Armenian forces had purposefully targeted civilian sites and civilians. The President of Artsakh stated that during the morning's clashes, Armenian forces had regained control over a number of previously ceded positions. At approximately 10:00, the Azerbaijani MoD released footage of an engagement and claimed that Azerbaijani forces had gained strategic high ground around Talış while Armenian forces had incurred heavy losses. The Azerbaijani MoD alleged that among the Armenian casualties were mercenaries of Armenian origin from Syria and other Middle Eastern countries.

At approximately 14:00, the Armenian media stated that an Azerbaijani UAV had been shot down near Vardenis. The President of the Republic of Artsakh stated that Azerbaijani forces were facing attacks on all fronts from Armenian forces. Shortly after, the Azerbaijani MoD stated that Azerbaijani forces had fired on Armenian artillery units that had been targeting Azerbaijani-controlled settlements in the direction of Aghdara. According to the Ministry, Armenian units incurred losses from artillery fire and were forced to withdraw.

At approximately 19:00, the Azerbaijani MoD stated that Armenian forces had fired upon Yuxarı Ağcakənd and Qaramusalı in Goranboy District. At approximately 20:00, the Deputy Commander of the Artsakh Defence Army, Arthur Sargsyan, stated that Armenian forces had retaken some positions. The chairman of the National Assembly of the Republic of Artsakh, Arthur Tovmasyan, stated that Armenian forces had repelled Azerbaijani forces and had advanced into Azerbaijani territory. Subsequently, at approximately 21:00, the Head of the Command and Personnel Faculty of the Vazgen Sargsyan Military University of the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Armenia, Artsrun Hovhannisyan, stated that Azerbaijani forces had launched a new major offensive operation in the Aras Valley and in the direction of Madagiz–Talış direction. Approximately one hour later, Poghosyan claimed that an Azerbaijani airplane had been shot down near Khojavend; which was denied by Azerbaijan. Additionally, the Azerbaijani MoD denied allegations that Azerbaijan had used F-16s during the conflict, stating the Azerbaijani Air Force does not possess F-16s. Throughout the day, the Azerbaijani MoD released footage apparently showing the destruction of Armenian materiel, vehicles, and units, including by UAVs.

29 September

At approximately 08:00, the Azerbaijani MoD stated that intensified clashes had continued along the entire length of the front during the night; it added that while Armenian forces repeatedly attempted to counterattack, Azerbaijani units had repelled them. Concurrently, Azerbaijani aerial and ground forces allegedly destroyed a mixed column of Armenian military vehicles travelling from Madagiz in the direction of Aghdara, together with an artillery battery providing fire support. At approximately 09:00, the Ministry stated that starting from 07:30, the territory of the Dashkasan District of Azerbaijan had been shelled from Vardenis, in Armenia; this was denied by the Armenian MoFA, which claimed that it was a fabrication meant to justify expanding the theater of operations, including aggression against Armenia. In response, Hikmet Hajiyev, senior adviser to Azerbaijan's president, stated that it was part of an "ongoing act of Armenian aggression against Azerbaijan". The Azerbaijani MoD then stated that an Azerbaijani offensive on Fuzuli City continued from the early morning, and at around 07:30, Azerbaijani forces had destroyed four Armenian tanks in the Fizuli-Jabrayil area; subsequently, the Azerbaijani MoD denied Armenian statements that territories had been retaken. The Armenian MoD stated that Artsakh Defence Army units had destroyed Azerbaijani materiel.

On 29 September, the clashes spilled over to Vardenis (above) and Daşkəsən (below), on the Armenian–Azerbaijani state border.

Hovhannisyan stated that a second Azerbaijani UAV had been shot down. At approximately 11:00, the Armenian MoD stated that the Azerbaijani military had opened fire on the Armenian military base in Vardenis, across the Armenian state border, also deploying its air force. At the same time, the Azerbaijani MoD stated that the Armenian 3rd Martuni Motorized Rifle Regiment, stationed in Khojavend District, had been destroyed; this was denied by the Artsakh MoD. Azerbaijani forces said it had destroyed an Armenian Uragan multiple rocket launcher in Khojavend District. Subsequently, Hovhannisyan stated that Azerbaijani forces had attempted a further attack in southern and northern directions but had been repelled. The Azerbaijani MoD accused Armenia of fabricating footage to improve domestic morale.

At about 12:00, Hovhannisyan stated that one Azerbaijani gunship had been shot down; the Azerbaijani MoD denied this, claiming that it had not employed helicopters that day. It also stated that an Armenian tank had been destroyed near Göyarx in the former Aghdara District. At approximately 12:40, Hovhannisyan stated that Artsakh Defence Army units had downed two helicopters using Igla man-portable surface-to-air missiles; Artsakh released footage apparently showing this. Hovhannisyan then stated that Azerbaijani forces were bombarding areas near Vardenis. The Azerbaijani MoD stated it had destroyed a command-and-observation post belonging to the 1st Regiment of the Armenian Army in the Hadrut settlement in Khojavend District, while the Armenian MoD announced it would be deploying heavier weapons and that its forces were repelling Azerbaijani offensives. The Azerbaijani MoD stated that an Armenian attempt to assault Azerbaijani-controlled military positions from Aşağı Veysəlli in Fuzuli District had been repelled, with Armenian losses. At approximately 13:20, the Armenian MoD stated that the Azerbaijani military had launched an offensive. At approximately 15:30, the Azerbaijani MoD claimed that S-300 missile systems defending Yerevan's airspace were being redeployed in the direction of Nagorno-Karabakh and asserted that they would be destroyed. Shortly after, the Artsakh Defence Army released footage apparently showing Armenian forces downing an Azerbaijani gunship, with Hovhannisyan stating that Armenian forces had destroyed Azerbaijani tanks.

At approximately 18:00, the Artsakh MoD stated that Azerbaijani forces had attacked along the northern and north-eastern directions of the front, while Armenians had inflicted losses on Azerbaijani units. Shortly after, the Armenian MoD stated that a Turkish F-16, taking off from Ganja International Airport had downed an Armenian Su-25, killing the pilot; this was denied by both Azerbaijani and Turkish authorities. Shortly after, the Armenian MoD released images of the wreckage of an Su-25. According to Azerbaijan, two Su-25 jets took off on the territory of Armenia and later crashed into a mountain and exploded. Then, at approximately 19:30, the Armenian MoD released footage apparently showing the destruction of an Azerbaijani unit. At approximately 22:00, the Armenian MoD stated that an Azerbaijani ammunition convoy had been destroyed. Approximately one hour later, the Azerbaijani MoD stated that Azerbaijani forces had destroyed positions occupied by the Armenian 5th Motorized Infantry Regiment near Həsənqaya in Tartar District and the 6th Motorized Infantry Regiment in the direction of Talış with artillery strikes. Throughout the day, the Azerbaijani MoD released footage apparently showing two Armenian tanks being destroyed and Azerbaijani artillery units firing on Armenian forces.

30 September

According to the Armenian MoD, the clashes continued with lesser intensity overnight. At approximately 08:30, the Azerbaijani MoD stated that Armenian forces had been shelling Tartar City for half an hour. The Armenian MoD stated it had downed an Azerbaijani IAI Harop drone. At approximately 10:20, the Azerbaijani MoD stated that Azerbaijani units had surrounded Armenian forces with the aid of artillery fire, and that clashes continued in the Aghdara/Martakert–Tartar area of the front. At approximately 10:20, the Ministry stated that Armenian forces had started firing upon Aşağı Ağcakənd, in Goranboy District. At approximately 11:10, the Armenian MoD stated that the Azerbaijani Air Force was attacking Armenian positions in the northern direction of the front. At approximately 12:25, the Azerbaijani MoD stated that the Armenian 7th Mountain Rifle Regiment of the 10th Mountain Rifle Division, stationed in Tonaşen, had incurred heavy losses and retreated; it released footage apparently showing the attack and stated that Azerbaijani forces had fired upon the command post of the Armenian 41st Special Regiment of the 18th Motorized Division, inflicting casualties. The Armenian MoD stated that Armenian forces had destroyed a substantial quantity of Azerbaijani materiel, including a TOS-1A. The Ministry also stated that Azerbaijani forces had shelled the 4th Armenian Battalion, stationed in Fuzuli District, and that its forces had attacked the headquarters of the Armenian 5th Mountain Rifle Regiment of the 10th Mountain Rifle Division, stationed in Aghdara. The Armenian MoD stated that Armenian forces had destroyed Azerbaijani outposts and materiel. Throughout the day, the Azerbaijani MoD released footage apparently showing the shelling and destruction of Armenian positions and materiel, including tanks, artillery, and missile launchers in the area of Jabrayil District. In turn, the Armenian MoD released footage apparently showing Armenian forces advancing towards Azerbaijani positions.

1 October

According to the Azerbaijani MoD, clashes continued overnight, with Azerbaijani units shelling Armenian positions, while the Artsakh MoD stated that the overnight situation had been relatively stable. At approximately 01:10, the Azerbaijani MoD released footage claiming to show the destruction of Armenian materiel. At approximately 10:00, it stated that Armenian forces had been shelling Tartar City during the morning. The Armenian MoD stated that Armenian forces shot down an Azerbaijani UAV near Askeran, while the Artsakh MoD stated that Artsakh forces had repelled Azerbaijani advances. About half an hour later, it stated that Artsakh forces had downed an Azerbaijani gunship near Lalatapa, with wreckage falling into Iranian territory; this was denied by Azerbaijan. At approximately 13:00, the Azerbaijani MoD stated that areas within Jabrayil and Fuzuli Districts were facing rocket attacks from Goris, in Armenia. Approximately half an hour later, it stated that Armenian forces were shelling Çocuq Mərcanlı, Horadiz, and front-line villages in Goranboy, Tartar and Aghdam Districts. At approximately 14:40, the Artsakh MoD stated that Armenian forces had downed two Azerbaijani warplanes and one helicopter; this was denied by Azerbaijan, which stated it had not deployed aircraft that day. The Azerbaijani MoD claimed the destruction of Armenian artillery, several Armenian air defense assets and multiple launch rocket systems. At approximately 19:00, the Ministry stated that Armenian forces had fired upon Horadiz from 17:50. At approximately 23:00, the Armenian MoD stated that Azerbaijani forces were shelling Shatvan and Mets Masrik, both in Armenia proper. Approximately half an hour later, the Azerbaijani MoD stated that Armenian forces had downed an Azerbaijani UAV in Kotayk Province, in Armenia.

2 October

File:Gəncə şəhərində tarixi bina ermənilər tərəfindən raket atəşi ilə vurulduqdan sonra.jpg

A residential building in Ganja after reportedly being hit by an Armenian rocket

According to the Azerbaijani MoD, during the night and in the morning, clashes continued in various areas of the front, and Azerbaijani forces captured and took control of dominant heights around Madagiz in the direction of Aghdara, while the Artsakh MoD stated that the situation had been relatively stable, if tense. At approximately 09:30, the Azerbaijani MoD stated that Xındırıstan, Alıbəyli, Əhmədağalı and Səfərli in Agdam District were under intense Armenian artillery fire. At approximately 12:40, it stated that Quzanlı in Agdam was under rocket fire from Nagorno-Karabakh, while about 10 missiles were fired from Armenia into Sabirkənd in Shamkir from the Tochka-U; this was denied by Armenia. The Azerbaijani MoD then stated that Armenians had been rocketing Əmirli in Barda, together with Ağdam and Quzanlı in Tovuz District. At approximately 14:00, the Armenian MoD stated that Azerbaijani forces were bombarding Stepanakert. At approximately 16:40, the Azerbaijani MoD stated that Tartar City and Şıxarx, and Soğanverdilər in Barda District were under Armenian artillery fire. Approximately an hour later, the Ministry stated that Azerbaijani forces had destroyed an Armenian field control post. Throughout the day, the Azerbaijani MoD released the footage of an Armenian field control post and of materiel being apparently destroyed, as well as attacks on personnel.

3 October

According to the Azerbaijani MoD, the situation along the front remained tense, while the Armenian MoD stated that heavy fighting was underway in the northern and southern directions of the front. At approximately 10:40, the Azerbaijani MoD stated that Tartar City, Səhləbad, Qəzyan, Qapanlı, Qaynaq, Əskipara and Hüseynli, all in Tartar, together with Ayaq Qərvənd, İmamqulubəyli, Qaradağlı, and Təzəkənd in Agdam, as well as Muğanlı, Qiyaməddinli, and Rəncbərlər in Aghjabadi, together with Tap Qaraqoyunlu in Goranboy, had been subjected to intensive Armenian artillery fire overnight. At approximately 12:10, the Armenian Foreign Ministry stated that the Azerbaijani military was using long-range weapons to destroy civilian infrastructure. At approximately 19:40, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev announced that the Azerbaijani forces had taken control of Suqovuşan. He also announced that Azerbaijani forces had taken control of Talış in Tartar, Mehdili, Çaxırlı, Aşağı Maralyan, Şəybəy and Quycaq in Jabrayil and Aşağı Əbdürrəhmanlı in Fuzuli.

4 October

According to the Armenian MoD, the overnight situation along the front was relatively stable, but tense. At approximately 09:00, the Azerbaijani MoD stated that Armenian forces were rocketing Tartar City and Horadiz. At approximately 10:30, the Ministry stated that Armenian forces were shelling Fuzuli District, while rocketing Agdam and Tartar Districts, while the Artsakh MoD stated that Azerbaijani forces were shelling Stepanakert. Approximately half an hour later, Ganja came under bombardment. The Armenian MoD denied that this came from its territory, while Artsakh took responsibility, stating that Armenian forces had targeted and destroyed the Ganja military airbase on Ganja International Airport; this was denied by Azerbaijan. Subsequently, both a correspondent reporting from the scene for a Russian media outlet and the airport director denied that the airport, which was not operational since March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, had been shelled.

At approximately 14:00, Azerbaijan claimed that Azerbaijani forces had severely wounded the President of Artsakh, Arayik Harutyunyan, who had visited the front in the morning; this was denied by Artsakh. Approximately an hour later, the Azerbaijani MoD released footage apparently showing the destruction of Armenian fire support, armored and logistic units. At approximately 16:00, the Azerbaijani MoD stated that the Armenian forces were shelling Sarıcalı in Aghjabadi, Baharlı, Çıraqlı, and Üçoğlan in Agdam District and Şahvəlilər in Barda Districts. Approximately 40 minutes later, Azerbaijani President Aliyev announced that Azerbaijani forces had taken control of the city of Jabrayil, as well as Karxulu, Şükürbəyli, Yuxarı Maralyan, Çərəkən, Daşgəsən, Horovlu, Mahmudlu, Cəfərabad and Decal, in Jabrayil District. At approximately 17:80, the Armenian MoD released footage apparently showing Azerbaijani soldiers leaving Mataghis. At approximately 22:40, the Azerbaijani MoD stated that Armenian forces had rocketed Tartar City and Mingachevir, the latter housing a water reservoir, which Armenia regards as a military target; this was denied by both Armenia and Artsakh. Approximately an hour later, the Office of the Azerbaijani President stated that Armenian forces had fired two medium-range missiles at Khizi and Absheron Districts.

5 October

A destroyed bus stop in Jabrayil, 2014. The Azerbaijani President announced that Azerbaijan had taken control of the city on 4 October.

According to the Armenian MoD, the clashes continued with varying intensity overnight, and Azerbaijani forces launched an offensive from the south. At approximately 10:00, the Azerbaijani MoD released radar-recorded footage apparently showing rockets being fired from Jermuk, Kapan, and Berd, in Armenia. The Armenian MoD stated that Azerbaijani forces were firing rockets at Stepanakert. Approximately one hour later, the Azerbaijani MoD stated that Armenian forces were shelling the cities of Beylagan, Barda and Tartar City. At approximately midday, the Azerbaijani MoD stated that Armenian forces were shelling the cities of Horadiz and Tartar, as well as villages in Tartar, Aghjabadi, Goranboy and Goygol Districts. The Office of the Azerbaijani President stated that Armenian forces were attacking Ganja, Barda, Beylagan and some other Azerbaijani cities with missiles and rockets, while the Azerbaijani MoD stated that Ganja had come under fire from Berd, Armenia. At approximately 16:50, the Azerbaijani MoD stated that Armenian forces were shelling the cities of Aghjabadi and Beylagan. At approximately 18:00, the Azerbaijani MoD stated that 3rd Battalion of the 1st Armenian Motorized Rifle Regiment, stationed in Hadrut, had fled. At approximately 20:20, the Azerbaijani MoD stated that Armenian forces had again shelled Ganja. Azerbaijan's president stated that Azerbaijani forces had taken control of the villages of Şıxalıağalı, Sarıcalı and Məzrə in Jabrayil. Armenian forces subsequently announced a partial "tactical retreat".

6 October

The clashes continued overnight. The Azerbaijani MoD stated its forces were in control of the entire front, while Artsakh stated that the situation was stable, if tense. The Azerbaijani MoD claimed that Azerbaijani forces had destroyed an Armenian ammunition depot in Ballıca and released footage apparently showing the destruction of Armenian materiel. According to Azerbaijani sources, a school building and a fire engine were hit in Agdam District by Armenian rockets. At approximately 16:30, the Armenian MoD stated that Azerbaijani forces had started a new offensive on the southern front. Approximately half an hour later, the same Ministry stated that Azerbaijani forces were shelling Stepanakert. At approximately 19:00, the Azerbaijani MoD stated that Armenian forces were shelling Yevlakh, Goranboy and Beylagan Districts. At approximately 22:30, the Prosecutor General's Office of Azerbaijan alleged that Armenia had fired missiles at the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, which the Azerbaijani army had prevented. Shortly after, the Armenian MoD stated that it had repeatedly denied targeting petroleum and gas infrastructure. It then stated that Armenian forces had shelled Tartar City.

7 October

Ghazanchetsots Cathedral in Shusha. The Armenian Apostolic cathedral was damaged during the conflict.

Goy Imam Mosque in Ganja. The Azerbaijani government reported that the mosque was damaged during the conflict. However, this has not been independently confirmed.^{[under discussion]}

According to the Azerbaijani MoD, the clashes continued along the entire front overnight. At approximately 10:00, the Azerbaijani MoD stated that the Azerbaijani forces were in control of Jabrayil District. It also released footage apparently showing Azerbaijani forces in Şükürbəyli. Approximately half an hour later, the Ministry stated that Armenian forces were shelling villages in Tartar, Barda, Aghdam, Aghjabadi, Fuzuli and Jabrayil Districts. At approximately midday, it stated that Azerbaijani forces had seized control of new Armenian bases, while the Armenian MoD stated that Azerbaijani forces were shelling Stepanakert. At approximately 15:00, the Azerbaijani MoD stated that Armenian forces were firing upon villages in Tartar and Fuzuli Districts. At approximately 19:30, the President of Artsakh stated that Armenian forces had retaken some positions.

8 October

Clashes continued overnight, and according to the Artsakh MoD, the situation was stable but tense. According to the Azerbaijani MoD, starting in the morning, Armenian forces began shelling villages in Goranboy, Tartar, Aghdam, Barda and Aghjabedi Districts, as well as the city of Barda. At approximately midday, the Azerbaijani Presidential Office stated that Armenian forces had rocketed Ganja, Barda, Tartar and other cities with Smerch MLRS. Then, it was reported that Ghazanchetsots Cathedral in Shusha came under repeated bombardment and was damaged by Azerbaijani shelling; this was denied by Azerbaijan. At approximately 13:00, the Azerbaijani MoD stated that Armenian forces had fired a Tochka-U missile at the city of Barda. At approximately 15:00, the Armenian MoD stated that Armenian forces were repelling Azerbaijani offensives. Subsequently, the Azerbaijani MoD stated that Armenian forces had shelled villages in Goranboy, Tartar, and Aghdam Districts. During the day, the Azerbaijani MoD released footage apparently showing the destruction of Armenian materiel and infrastructure.

9 October

Clashes continued overnight, and according to the Artsakh MoD, the situation was stable but tense. According to the Azerbaijani MoD, starting in the morning, Armenian forces fired upon Goranboy, Tartar, Barda, and Aghdam Districts and shelled Aghjabadi District and the city of Mingachevir. The Ministry also released footage showing villages in Jabrayil District, which Azerbaijani forces had apparently seized control of. The Armenian MoD stated that Azerbaijani forces were bombarding Stepanakert. At approximately 14:00, the Azerbaijani authorities stated that Armenian forces had fired missiles at a mosque in Beylagan and at Goy Imam Mosque in Ganja. Subsequently, the Azerbaijani MoD released footage apparently showing the destruction and capture of Armenian materiel. At approximately 16:30, it stated that Azerbaijani forces had shot down a ballistic missile during flight from Armenia to Mingachevir. At approximately 17:00, the Azerbaijani President announced that Azerbaijani forces had taken control of Hadrut, together with the villages of Çaylı, Yuxarı Güzlək, Gorazıllı, Qışlaq, Qaracallı, Əfəndilər, Sor and Süleymanlı. The capture of Hadrut was denied by Artsakh, Azerbaijani MoD released footage apparently showing the destruction of Armenian materiel, the setting of Sugovushan, and the streets of Talış, again claiming an Azerbaijani presence in the contested villages.

10 October

Just before 04:00 (00:00 GMT) on October 10th, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reported that both Armenia and Azerbaijan had agreed on a ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh "on humanitarian grounds" after 10 hours of talks in Moscow, and announced that the parties will now enter "substantive" talks. Hostilities were formally halted at 12:00 (08:00 GMT), to allow an exchange of prisoners and the recovery of the dead, to be facilitated by the International Committee of the Red Cross. Armenia and Azerbaijan accused each other of bombarding civilian settlements prior to the ceasefire, with both sides denying the other's accusations. Each side has also accused the other of breaking the ceasefire, and air sirens were activated in Stepanakert. The Azerbaijani MoD has continued to release footage apparently showing the destruction of Armenian materiel. Both Artsakh and Azerbaijan accused each other of attacking Hadrut, but claimed that the town remained under their control.

Non-military actions taken by Armenia and Azerbaijan

Armenia

The slogan "#Հաղթելուենք" ("We're going to win") in the center of Yerevan in support of the Republic of Artsakh, 2 October 2020

On 28 September, Armenia banned all men aged over 18 who were listed in the mobilization reserve from leaving the country. The next day, Armenia postponed the trial of former President Robert Kocharyan and other former officials charged in the 2008 post-election unrest case. The reason provided was that one of the defendants, the former Defence Minister of Armenia, Seyran Ohanyan, had gone to Artsakh during the Azerbaijani attack.

On 1 October, TikTok was inaccessible in Armenia. On the same day, the Armenian National Security Service (NSS) stated that it had arrested and charged a former high-ranking Armenian military official with treason on suspicion of spying for Azerbaijan. Subsequently, on 4 October, the NSS stated that it had arrested several foreign citizens on suspicion of spying.

On 8 October, the Armenian President, Armen Sarkissian, dismissed the director of the NSS. On the same day, the Armenian MoD canceled the Novaya Gazeta correspondent Ilya Azar's journalistic accreditation, officially for entering Nagorno-Karabakh without accreditation; Azar stated this response was due to his reporting in Shusha and Lachin.

Protesting against Israeli arms sales to Azerbaijan, Armenia has recalled its ambassador to Israel.

Azerbaijan

Azerbaijanis marching in Baku with the Azerbaijani flag in their hands, in support of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces, 1 October 2020

On 27 September, Azerbaijani authorities restricted internet access shortly after the clashes began. According to an official statement, this was done to prevent Armenian provocations. The National Assembly of Azerbaijan declared a curfew in Baku, Ganja, Goygol, Yevlakh and a number of districts from midnight on 28 September, under the Interior Minister, Vilayet Eyvazov. Azerbaijan Airlines announced that all airports in Azerbaijan would be closed to regular passenger flights until 30 September. The Military Prosecutor's Offices of Fizuli, Tartar, Karabakh and Ganja began criminal investigations of war and other crimes.

Also on 28 September, the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, issued a decree authorising a partial mobilization in Azerbaijan.

On 8 October, Azerbaijan recalled its ambassador to Greece for consultations, following allegations of Armenians from Greece arriving in Nagorno-Karabakh to fight against Azerbaijan.

Casualties and equipment losses

Civilian and military casualties have been high and may be being underestimated as casualty claims have not been independently verified. Civilian areas, including major cities, have been hit, including Azerbaijan's second-largest city, Ganja, and the region's capital, Stepanakert, with many buildings and homes destroyed.

Civilian casualties

According to Armenian sources, on 27 September, two civilians were killed by Azerbaijani shelling in Martuni Province, with approximately a dozen injured in Stepanakert; the Azerbaijani MoD denied these claims. By 8 October, Armenian authorities reported 22 Armenian civilians killed.

According to Azerbaijani sources, the Armenian military has targeted densely populated areas containing civilian structures. As of 7 October, the Prosecutor General's Office of the Republic of Azerbaijan stated that during the clashes, as a result of reported shelling by Armenian artillery, 31 people had been killed, while 161 people had been hospitalized. Civilian casualties include five residents of Qaşaltı Qaraqoyunlu, in Naftalan; one from Evoğlu; several in or from Tartar City; two in the Şıxarx settlement in Tartar District; one in Qaradağlı, and one in Xındırıstan in Agdam, one from Horadiz, two from Aghdam; two from Beylagan; one from Ganja; one from Aghjabadi; one from Barda; and one from Şahməmmədli in Goranboy.

On 1 October, two French journalists from Le Monde covering the clashes in Martuni were injured by Azerbaijani shellfire.

On 8 October, three Russian journalists reporting on the damage sustained by Ghazanchetsots Cathedral in Shusha were injured by a second Azerbaijani attack; two were listed in serious condition while the condition of the third was listed as critical. On 9 October, Artsakh authorities upgraded the condition of the third journalist and stated that he had been moved to Yerevan.

Military casualties

Since the beginning of the clashes the government of Azerbaijan has not revealed the number of its military casualties.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights documented the death of at least 107 Syrian fighters or mercenaries fighting for Azerbaijan.

Armenian and Artsakh authorities have claimed 3,000 Azerbaijani soldiers killed; as of 7 October, an Armenian media source has provided the names and ranks of 415 Azerbaijani servicemen casualties. On 6 October, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry denied an Armenian Defense Ministry claim of 200 deaths after the alleged defeat of an Azerbaijani unit. As of 8 October, Artsakh authorities reported the deaths of 404 servicemen, and the Armenian pilot of a downed Su-25 also died.

Equipment losses

Azerbaijan claims to have destroyed about 250 tanks and other armored vehicles; 150 other military vehicles; 11 command and command-observation posts; 270 artillery units and MLRSs, including a BM-27 Uragan; 60 Armenian anti-aircraft systems, including an S-300 and 25 9K33 Osas; 18 UAVs and 8 arms depots. As of 2 October, the Center for Economic Reforms Analysis and Communication of Azerbaijan estimated Armenian losses at US$1.2 billion. In turn an Azerbaijani helicopter was stated to have been damaged, but its crew had apparently returned it to Azerbaijani-controlled territory without casualties. Armenian and Artsakh authorities initially claimed the downing of four Azerbaijani helicopters and the destruction of ten tanks and IFVs, as well as 15 drones. Later the numbers were revised to 36 tanks and armored personnel vehicles destroyed, two armored combat engineering vehicles destroyed and four helicopters and 27 unmanned aerial vehicles downed all within the first day of hostilities. They released footage showing the destruction or damage of five Azerbaijani tanks. Over the course of 2 October, the Artsakh Defence Army claimed the destruction of 39 Azerbaijani military vehicles, including a T-90 tank; four SU-25 fighter-bombers; three Mi-24 attack helicopters; and 17 UAVs.

Analysis

In a 27 September interview, regional expert Thomas de Waal stated that it was highly unlikely that hostilities were initiated by the Armenian side. "Basically, Armenians won the war of the 1990s, they have all the territory they want", de Waal said. "Their incentive is to normalize the status quo", while "for various reasons, Azerbaijan calculates that military action will win it something". The suspected immediate goal of the Azerbaijani attack is to capture the districts of Fuzuli and Jabrayil in southern Nagorno-Karabakh, where the terrain is less mountainous and more favorable for offensive operations.

Russian military expert Mikhail Khodarenok stated that Azerbaijan had planned and prepared the offensive operation in Karabakh in advance; he added that the Azerbaijani army did not appear to complete its initial objectives during the first five days of the clashes, taking neither Fizuli nor Mardakert, and that the offensive could stall. Similarly, political scientist Arkady Dubnov, an expert at the Carnegie Moscow Center and for the Russia in Global Affairs magazine, believes that Azerbaijan launched the offensive, for lham Aliyev to improve Azerbaijan's position in a suitable season for hostilities in the terrain.

One analyst in the journal Foreign Policy predicted that Azerbaijan would have great difficulty in trying to occupy the entire area of Nagorno-Karabakh due to the extremely inaccessible mountainous terrain controlled by Armenian troops. In addition, he opined that the readiness of the Azerbaijani army was very poor, with morale low, its structure corrupt and inefficient, and a desertion rate as high as 20 percent. Furthermore, despite large investments in the purchase of military equipment from oil profits, the Azerbaijani army was said to lack adequate training for the use of new equipment.

Analysts such as Carlotta Gall have argued that Turkey appears to be using the conflict to attempt to leverage its influence in the South Caucasus along its eastern border, using both military and diplomatic resources to extend its sphere of influence in the Middle East, and to marginalize the influence of Russia, another regional power. Russia is part of a military alliance with Armenia, but has historically pursued a policy of maintaining neutrality in the conflict, and Armenia has yet to request aid. According to Michael Kofman, director of the Russia studies program at the CNA, Russia is unlikely to intervene unless Armenia incurs drastic losses.

The Economist cited Azerbaijan's highly effective use of drones as indicating the future of warfare. Noting that it had previously been assumed that drones would not play a major role in conflicts between nations due to their vulnerability to anti-aircraft fire, it suggested that while this might be true for major powers with air defences, it was less true for minor powers. It noted Azerbaijani tactics and Turkey's use of drones in the Syrian civil war as indicating a "new, more affordable type of air power". It also noted that the ability of drones to record their kills enabled a highly effective Azerbaijani propaganda campaign.

Official statements

Armenia and Artsakh

File:NA moment silence.jpg

President of the National Assembly Ararat Mirzoyan (second from left) leads a moment of silence honoring Armenian soldiers and civilians who perished in the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

On 27 September, the Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan, accused the Azerbaijani authorities of a large-scale provocation. The Prime Minister stated that the "recent aggressive statements of the Azerbaijani leadership, large-scale joint military exercises with Turkey, as well as the rejection of OSCE proposals for monitoring" indicated that the aggression was pre-planned and constituted a major violation of regional peace and security. The next day, Armenia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) issued a statement, stating that the "people of Artsakh" were at war with "the Turkish–Azerbaijani alliance". The Armenian Ambassador to Russia, Vardan Toganyan, did not rule out that Armenia may turn to Russia for fresh arms supplies. On 29 September, Prime Minister Pashinyan stated that Azerbaijan, with military support from Turkey, was expanding the theater into Armenian territory. On 30 September, Prime Minister Pashinyan stated that Armenia was considering officially recognising the Republic of Artsakh as an independent territory. The same day, the Armenian MoFA stated that the Turkish Air Force had carried out provocative flights along the front between the forces of the Republic of Artsakh and Azerbaijan, including providing air support to the Azerbaijani army.

On 1 October, the President of Artsakh, Arayik Harutyunyan, stated that Armenians needed to prepare for a long-term war. Two days later, the Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) Foreign Ministry called on the international community to recognise the independence of the Republic of Artsakh in order to restore regional peace and security. On 4 October, the Armenian government stated Azerbaijan had deployed cluster munitions against residential targets in Stepanakert; an Amnesty International investigator condemned this. The next day, Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs Zohrab Mnatsakanyan stated to Fox News that the targeting of civilian populations in Nagorno-Karabakh by Azerbaijani forces was tantamount to war crimes and called for an end to the "aggression".

Azerbaijan

Meeting of the Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev with the country's Security Council on 27 September.

On 26 September, according to the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defence, the day before the offensive, the Armenian military had fired in different directions along the front line, violating the ceasefire 48 times. Azerbaijan stated that the Armenian side attacked first, adding that Azerbaijani forces then launched a counter-offensive.

On 27 September, the Office of the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, accused Armenian forces of a "willful and deliberate" attack on the front line and of targeting civilian areas, alleging a "gross violation of international humanitarian law". On 28 September, the Office stated that Armenia's actions had destroyed the peace negotiations through an act of aggression, alleged that a war had been launched against Azerbaijan, mobilised the people of Azerbaijan, and declared a Great Patriotic War. The Office then stated that the deployment of the Armenian military in Nagorno-Karabakh constituted a threat to regional peace and accused Armenia of propagandising, adding that the Azerbaijani military was operating according to international law. The Azerbaijani State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs issued a statement accusing the Armenian military of purposefully targeting civilians, including women and children. Furthermore, the Azerbaijani Minister of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) denied any claims of Turkish involvement, while admitting military-technical cooperation with Turkey and other countries.

On 29 September, the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, while receiving the credentials of the newly appointed Ambassador of Pakistan to Azerbaijan, spoke about Azerbaijan's territorial integrity. Aliyev stated that the Armenian occupation and aggression had led to the destruction of infrastructure and mosques, caused the Khojaly massacre, and resulted in cultural genocide, thereby insulting the Muslim world and being tantamount to state-backed Islamophobia and hatred of Azerbaijanis. The Azerbaijani MoFA and Prosecutor General's Office issued a joint statement on alleged war crimes against civilians by Armenia. The Azerbaijani MoFA demanded that Armenia stop shelling civilians and called on international organizations to ensure Armenia followed international law. The Azerbaijani Ambassador to Russia denied reports of mercenaries brought in from Turkey by Azerbaijan, and the First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mehriban Aliyeva, stated that Azerbaijan had never laid claim to others' territory nor committed crimes against humanity.

On 3 October, Aliyev stated that Armenia needed to leave Azerbaijan's territory (in Nagorno-Karabakh) for the war to stop. The next day, Aliyev issued an official statement that Azerbaijan was "writing a new history", describing Karabakh as an ancient Azerbaijani territory and longstanding home to Azerbaijanis, and noting that Armenians had occupied Azerbaijan's territory, destroying its religious and cultural heritage, for three decades. He added that Azerbaijan would restore its cities and destroyed mosques and accused Armenia of distorting history.

On 5 October, the Azerbaijan government stated that Armenia had deployed cluster munitions against cities. Three days later, Aliyev accused the Armenian Armed Forces of committing war crimes through the firing of ballistic missiles at civilian settlements. He also accused Armenia of ethnic discrimination on account of the historical expulsion or self-exile of ethnic minority communities, highlighting its mono-ethnic population.

On 10 October, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov stated that the truce signed on the same day was temporary. Despite this, Ilham Aliyev stated that both parties were now attempting to determine a political resolution to the conflict.

Allegations of third-party involvement

Because of the geography, history, and sensitivities of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, accusations, allegations, and statements have been made of involvement by third-party and international actors, including in media reports and by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR). Evidence of the presence of Syrian fighters in Azerbaijan is growing.

Turkey and Syrian National Army

Two days into the armed conflict, several SNA members and the SOHR alleged that a private Turkish security company had begun signing up Syrian volunteers to fight in Artsakh; Azerbaijan and Turkey. A report in The Times partially confirmed Turkish involvement in sending 200 Syrian mercenaries to support Azerbaijani forces. Azerbaijani and SNA officials have denied that Syrians have been deployed. A Turkish-based source reported that these are acting independently and do not belong to the SNA. The Russian Ministry of Defense has expressed concern over "illegal armed units" from Syria and Libya that it states have arrived to fight in the conflict zone. The SOHR has confirmed a total of 320 Syrian rebels in Azerbaijan, primarily of Syrian-Turkmen descent from the Sultan Murad Division, and noted that they had not participated in the clashes. The SOHR stated that Arab-majority Syrian rebel groups refused to send their fighters to Azerbaijan. As of 1 October 2020, the SOHR confirmed the deaths of 28 Syrian fighters and nearly 60 reported injured or missing in the previous two days of fighting. Later, Emmanuel Macron accused Turkey of dispatching Syrian "jihadists" to Nagorno-Karabakh via Gaziantep. On 2 October, Russian investigative newspaper Novaya Gazeta reported 700–1,000 militants had apparently been sent to Azerbaijan and provided details of their transport and recruitment itinerary, referring to the Hamza Division and the Samarkand and Nureddin Zinki Brigades. On 3 October, Armenian Prime Minister Pashinyan claimed that Syrian fighters, together with Turkish army specialists, were involved in the Azerbaijani attacks, together with approximately 150 senior Turkish military officers, stationed in Azerbaijani command centers and allegedly directing military operations. The same day, the National Security Service of Armenia presented intercepted conversations, allegedly between the Turkish and Azerbaijani military, as well as conversations allegedly between the Azerbaijani military and mercenaries in Arabic. Elizabeth Tsurkov, an American expert on Syria, reported on videos of Arabic-speaking foreigners, who she identified as likely Syrian mercenaries, urging compatriots to join them; the location was identified as Horadiz, in Azerbaijan. The head of the Georgian State Security Service stated that news about the passage of Syrian unofficial armed groups from Turkey through Georgia to Azerbaijan was disinformation. On 5 October, Russian News Agency RIA Novosti stated that 322 Syrian "mercenaries" were in the conflict zone and that 93 had been killed, while 430 from Syria had headed there the previous weekend. On 6 October, the Director of the Foreign Intelligence Service of Russia, Sergey Naryshkin, alleged that several thousand fighters from Middle East terrorist organizations had come to Nagorno-Karabakh to fight for Azerbaijan, specifically Jabhat al-Nusra (al-Qaeda branch), Firkat Hamza, and the Sultan Murad Division, as well as extremist Kurdish groups. He claimed all were linked to the Islamic State (ISIL). Naryshkin also stated that Turkey's direct involvement was complicating the conflict. The same day, reiterating accusations by French President Macron that Turkey has sent Syrian fighters to the conflict, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad confirmed their involvement without offering evidence. On 9 October, the SOHR stated that at least 107 pro-Turkey Syrian rebel fighters, who were among more than 1,450 combatants, had been killed in clashes. Meanwhile, an unidentified SNA leader, the Jesr Press and a The Guardian article also confirmed the deaths of dozens of Syrian fighters.

Armenian "mercenaries" and Kurdish militias

Before the conflict, Turkish sources alleged that many YPG and PKK members from Iraq and Syria were transferred to Nagorno-Karabakh in order to train Armenian militias against Azerbaijan, and on 30 September, Turkish sources alleged that about 300 PKK militants were transferred to Nagorno-Karabakh via Iran. However, according to a Washington Post commentator, these claims may be doubted, due to Turkey having previously issued questionable statements regarding PKK and YPG activities. A Jerusalem Post commentator wrote that the Daily Sabah's suggestions of PKK/YPG involvement in Karabakh were "meant to create the justification for Turkey to claim its 'security' is being threatened by the 'PKK' and that it can invade". The commentator noted that Turkey had used this same excuse of neutralizing "terrorists" to attack northern Iraq and Syria. On 28 September, the Azerbaijani MoD alleged that among the Armenian casualties were mercenaries of Armenian origin from Syria and from a variety of Middle East countries. On the same day, the Turkish Minister of Defence, Hulusi Akar, stated that Armenia must "send back the mercenaries and terrorists it brought from abroad". Two days later, the Foreign Policy Advisor to the President of Azerbaijan stated that the international community "should adequately respond to the use of terrorist forces by Armenia". The SOHR stated that Armenian-born Syrian fighters were being transported to Armenia to fight against Azerbaijan. On 4 October, the Turkish MoD stated that PKK-YPG "terrorists", allegedly cooperating with Armenians in targeting civilians, must vacate the region. The next day, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Armenia had widely employed foreign terrorist forces and mercenaries against it, with there being clear evidence of people of Armenian origin from the Middle East, especially Syria and Lebanon, and subsequently Russia, Georgia, Greece, the United Arab Emirates, and other countries.

On 6 October, the Azerbaijani State Security Service (SSS) claimed that Armenia had employed foreign mercenaries, including members of Kurdish militant groups whom Armenia has brought from Iraq and Syria, to fight Azerbaijan. The Azerbaijani SSS presented intercepted conversations, allegedly between PKK members, where the conversing parties were discussing the military situation.

Arms supplies

Israel

Israel, a major trading partner and weapons supplier for Azerbaijan, is reported to have continued to ship weapons, especially drones, during the conflict.

Russia and Iran

During the conflict, Azerbaijani and Iranian media reported that Russian weaponry and military hardware were being transported to Armenia via Iran. On 29 September, the Iranian Foreign Ministry denied these claims. The next day, Azerbaijani government-affiliated media outlets shared footage reportedly showing the military equipment being transported. Azerbaijani MP Sabir Rustamkhanli alleged that Iran was engaged in transporting weapons from various countries to Armenia. Subsequently, in the Azerbaijani Parliament, Rustamkhanli suggested opening an Azerbaijani embassy in Israel. The Chief of Staff of the President of Iran, Mahmoud Vaezi, in a phone call with the Deputy Prime Minister of Azerbaijan, Shahin Mustafayev, denied the claims and stated that they were aimed at disrupting both countries' relations. Iranian state-affiliated media stated that trucks depicted in the footage consisted of shipments of Kamaz trucks that the Armenian government had previously purchased from Russia. On 28 September, Russian media reported that Russian private military companies were ready to fight against Azerbaijan in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Serbia

Azerbaijan has claimed evidence of Armenia employing Serbian weapons, alleged to have been transported via Georgia. In response, the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, stated that Serbia considers both Armenia and Azerbaijan to be friends and "brotherly nations", insisting that Serbian weapons were not being used in Nagorno-Karabakh.

International reactions

Supranational and regional organisations

President of the European Council Charles Michel called for a bilateral cessation of hostilities, as did the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and Secretary-General of the United Nations António Guterres followed by the United Nations Security Council. Secretary General of NATO Jens Stoltenberg did likewise and urged Turkey to use its influence to that end.

Secretary General of the Organization of American States Luis Almagro demanded that Azerbaijan cease hostilities, whereas the Turkic Council demanded that Armenia withdraw from Azerbaijan.

Countries

Representatives of countries, including Albania, Argentina, Canada, Chile, China, Croatia, Estonia, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, the United States, Uruguay, and the Holy See, have called for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.

The governments of Turkey and Pakistan expressed support for Azerbaijan. Turkey blamed Armenia for violating the ceasefire. Further, Turkey issued a statement on 1 October dismissing the joint demands from France, Russia, and the United States calling for a ceasefire. Bosniak member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Šefik Džaferović and the leader of the Party of Democratic Action, Bakir Izetbegović, voiced support for Azerbaijan, condemning Armenia and comparing the situation with the 1992-1995 Bosnian War. Afghanistan called for an end to Armenian occupation in Nagorno-Karabakh while calling for a cease-fire, urging the parties involved to resolve the long-standing crisis peacefully. The partially recognised Northern Cyprus expressed support for Azerbaijan.

Hungary stated it backed Azerbaijan's territorial integrity, declaring that "Armenian-majority Nagorno-Karabakh lies within the borders of Azerbaijan", adding that Hungary supports the reduction of tensions in the escalating conflict and a negotiated solution in the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group. Ukraine stated that it supports Azerbaijan's territorial integrity and that it would not provide military assistance to either state and that it wanted to avoid an ethnic conflict between its own Armenian and Azerbaijani communities. Iran stated that there is no military solution to the conflict, expressing support for Azerbaijan's territorial integrity, while emphasizing the need for a ceasefire and political dialogue and expressed concern over mortar shells that had accidentally hit Iran during the conflict.

United States president Donald Trump said his administration was "looking at [the conflict] very strongly" and that it was seeing whether it could stop it. Presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden demanded that Turkey "stay out" of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. In a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Senate Foreign Relations Committee ranking member Bob Menendez, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, and several other lawmakers called for the Trump administration to immediately suspend U.S. military aid to Azerbaijan, sent through Pentagon’s "building partner assistance program." Eliot Engel, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said that "the influence of external actors such as Turkey recklessly meddling in the conflict is troubling".

Cyprus condemned Azerbaijan for breaching the ceasefire and for escalating actions by the involved parties or third parties, calling for a return to peaceful negotiations. Syria blamed Turkey for the conflict. The unrecognised or partially recognised countries of Transnistria, Abkhazia and South Ossetia recognise the independence of the Republic of Artsakh, and Transnistria expressed its desire for a resolution of the conflict and sympathy for the "brotherly people of Artsakh". Abkhazia urged the international community to prevent aggression against Artsakh and expressed hope for the conflict to end; while South Ossetia asked the international community to stop the conflict and blamed Azerbaijan for starting "crimes against humanity" against the "brotherly Artsakh".

Minorities abroad

The Armenian ambassador to the United States Varuzhan Nersesyan has invited US intervention in the conflict, as has his Azerbaijani counterpart Elin Suleymanov.

Armenians

On 1 October, the Armenian minority of South Ossetia condemned the actions of Azerbaijan, which in their view had attacked Artsakh's cities with Turkey's support. They referenced Armenians who had helped South Ossetia during the Georgian–Ossetian conflict, and affirmed that Artsakh's independence should be recognised. The next day, Armenians in Samtskhe–Javakheti expressed concern about the conflict and their intention to send aid to Armenia and Artsakh. Subsequently, Georgia closed its border with Armenia, indicating frustration within Georgia's Armenian minority. The leader of the Armenian diaspora in Croatia, Katarina Oganesjan, asked for support against what she described as a genocide against the Armenians. On 5 October, Armenian Americans staged a protest outside the Los Angeles CNN building, calling for more accurate coverage of the conflict.

Azerbaijanis

On 1 October, Ali Khamenei's representatives in four provinces (Ardabil, East Azerbaijan, West Azerbaijan and Zanjan) stated that Nagorno-Karabakh belonged to Azerbaijan, that there was a need to return the territory to Azerbaijan, and that Azerbaijan's government had acted in accordance with the law. The next day, several protests erupted in some Iranian cities, including the capital Tehran and Tabriz, in support of Azerbaijan. Iranian Azerbaijani demonstrators chanted slogans in Azerbaijani, including "Karabakh is ours. It will remain ours". The same day, around 50 Azerbaijani representatives from the 5,000-strong community in Moldova expressed their support for Azerbaijan in the capital Chișinău. On 3 October, Azerbaijanis in Georgia indicated a readiness to fight for Azerbaijan and confidence that Azerbaijan would retake Nagorno-Karabakh.

Sports

Due to the conflict, UEFA announced that the 2020–21 UEFA Nations League C home matches of Armenia and Azerbaijan will no longer be hosted in the countries; instead Armenia will play their designated "home" game in Tychy, Poland; while Azerbaijan will play in Elbasan, Albania.

See also

• 2014 Armenian–Azerbaijani clashes
• 2016 Nagorno–Karabakh clashes
• July 2020 Armenian–Azerbaijani clashes