Extremely dangerous developments in south Caucasus, as Azerbaijan & Armenia fight again over Nagorno Karabakh, while Turkey is fuelling the fire by sending Syrian Islamist fighters to fight against the "infidel" Armenians and calls for a pan-Islamic support for Azerbaijan.
Earlier Turkish-backed Jihadis arrived to Azerbajizan from Turkey to help Azerbaijan in the war against Armenia.
This batch arrived in Turkey a few days earlier from Afrin in north-western countryside of Aleppo.
BREAKING | Armenian authorities announce mobilisation for reserve servicemen under age of 55
Another Azerbaijan drone hits the dust, the 16th so far, Armenia MoD confirms. There are also reports that one more helicopter has been shot down.
Intense clashes are ongoing. Multiple casualties confirmed on both sides, exact number unknown.
Some fun facts about Artsakh:
Artsakh has been an integral part of the Armenian homeland for over 2,500 years.
The Russian diplomat and historian S. M. Bronevskiy said in the late 18th century that Artsakh was “located in Greater Armenia” and had as many as 30–40,000 armed Armenian men in 1796.
In 1921, it was estimated that Artsakh was 94% Armenian. However in 1959 and 1970 after the incorporation of Artsakh in the Azerbaijani Socialist Soviet Republic, the Azerbaijani population increased by 51% whilst the Armenian grew by just 1.6%.
According to the 1989 census, Artsakh’s population was approximately 75% ethnic Armenian (145,000) and 25% ethnic Azeri (40,688), despite the Armenians being 94% of the population in 1921.
Heydar Aliyev, former Soviet Azerbaijan leader & father of current dictator Ilham Aliyev, said in 2002 "I tried to increase the number of Azerbaijanis in [Artsakh] and the number of Armenians decreased.”
They don't even try to hide they tried changing demographics.
Soviet leader Joseph Stalin, then acting Commissar of Nationalities, in 1921 assigned Artsakh under Azerbaijani control as a means to appease Turkey and them to join the Soviet Union so that they could unify with their Azeri ethnic kin.
Although Artsakh transferred as a goodwill gesture to maintain good relations with Ataturk’s Turkey, you cannot overlook the Soviet policy of “divide and rule.”
By giving Artsakh to Azerbaijan, Armenians became ‘hostages’ to ensure the Armenian SSR’s stayed loyal to the USSR. At the same time, an ‘autonomous’ Armenian enclave within Azerbaijan could also be a fifth column if Azerbaijan became disloyal to the Soviets.
The Soviet policy of “divide and rule” led to the disintegration of stability in the Caucasus since the collapse of the USSR in 1991.
The idea that Artsakh is anything but Armenian is ludicrous.
“Dear compatriots,
The enemy has attacked our homeland.
Today, starting at dawn, we have put aside all internal disagreements, uniting all our efforts for the sake of our statehood and new military successes,” said Edmon Marukyan, leader of the opposition Bright Armenia Party.
PM Nikol Pashinyan: We're united as always, as we have been in all crucial moments of our history, when enemy has threatened our existence, our identity & our values. Dictatorial authorities of Azerbaijan must know that it's impossible to bring Armenian people to their knees.
I call on the international community to use all of its influence to halt any possible interference by Turkey, which will ultimately destabilize the situation in the region. This is fraught with the most devastating consequences for the South Caucasus and neighboring regions.
Seth Frantzman: Thread: The entire conflict in Karabakh was likely planned or pushed by Ankara to create a new crisis so the ruling party can invade another country, after having invaded Syria, Iraq and Libya. NATO, EU, UN and US appeasement of Ankara created this.
We can see how it was orchestrated by Ankara by reading the propaganda pro-government media there; orchestrated first through threatening Armenia, then military flights, then claims of "PKK"; this is part of the narrative Ankara always puts forward
We can read the statements at Daily Sabah and Yeni Safak and then the statements from Ankara: "Erdogan calls Aliyev and tells him that Turkey is ready to help Azerbaijan in every possible means against Armenia"
Ever since the illegal invasion, occupation and depopulation of Afrin the message was sent that any invasion is acceptable by Turkey and that there will never be serious attempts at peace. Russia, Iran and China understand this. Other countries in the Middle East know too.
It's hard to keep up with the social media rapidly changing narrative, but you'll see that what began as claims Armenia "attacked" and "imported PKK" is linked to justification for the next phase. No evidence of Armenia "attack" or "PKK" though. But by day two it won't matter.
Armenia is asking international community, which generally does nothing, to do something...he doesn't realize that the international community no longer exists;
Azerbaijani BTRs, BMP-3 armored fighting vehicles destroyed by Armenian fire.
Video showing Armenian air defense shooting down an Azerbaijani drone over Stepanakert.
