The forces of Nagorno-Karabakh seem to have expanded their attacks to Azerbaijan proper. Azerbaijan said this morning that Ganja, its second largest city came under attack from Armenian forces. Armenia denies responsibility but the President of the breakaway region, Artsakh Republic (aka, Nagorno-Karabakh) Arayik Harutyunyan said his forces had destroyed a military airbase located in Ganja. “Permanent military units located in the large cities of Azerbaijan from now on become the targets of the defense army,” said Arayik Harutyunyan, reported Reuters. The Azeri defense ministry said the cities of Terter and Horadiz near the de facto border with Nagorno-Karabakh were under heavy shelling, while the breakaway region’s military said the Nagorno-Karabakh capital, Stepanakert, was under bombardment.
“The Ganja military airport is no more,” said Artsakh’s presidential spokesperson Vahram Poghosyan, reported the Armenian Press agency, which is full of headlines reporting accusations that Azeri forces are deliberately bombarding civilians. “Despite numerous warnings, the Azerbaijani terrorist army continues targeting the peaceful population of Stepanakert with Polonez and Smerch systems. From now on the military facilities permanently deployed in Azerbaijan’s major cities are legitimate targets of the Defense Army. I am calling on the Azerbaijani population to immediately leave these cities to avoid possible losses,” Arayik Harutyunyan said.
Ganja is the same airport where Turkish F-16s were deployed during the summer for joint exercises during the summer.
Yesterday, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan claimed that 150 Turkish military officers are deployed in Azeri military command centers and are helping to direct the Azeri military campaign. Pashinyan also said that he believes that negotiations won’t be possible unless Azerbaijan stops its war. “When there is an aggression, the first task is to protect the population from aggression. After which only it will be only possible to talk about negotiations. In the situation when there is a large-scale aggression, I can say with confidence that the people of Karabakh will not retreat in the face of the aggression,” he said.
