Azerbaijan’s military operation in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region has resulted in the deaths of at least 32 people and injuries to 200 others, according to a statement by an official in Armenian-controlled territory. The operation, described as an “anti-terrorist” campaign by Azerbaijan’s defense ministry, is taking place in an ethnic Armenian enclave that is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan but has been the cause of two wars between the neighboring countries. Civilians, including two children, have been killed, and the regional capital of Stepanakert has reportedly been heavily bombarded. Tensions have been building for months, with the blockade of the Lachin corridor by Azerbaijani troops, cutting off the only road connecting Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia. Russian peacekeepers, deployed in the region to prevent conflict, have been criticized for their inability or unwillingness to protect Armenia. Armenian authorities have requested immediate talks with Azerbaijan, while Azerbaijan has demanded the dissolving of the “illegal regime” in Nagorno-Karabakh. The claims of both sides have not been independently verified, but an Azerbaijani presidential adviser played down reports of civilian casualties. The conflict has drawn international condemnation, with calls for a cessation of activities and a return to peace negotiations. However, Turkey, a close ally of Azerbaijan, defended Baku’s actions as necessary for its sovereign territory. Russia has expressed alarm over the escalation and called for an end to the bloodshed, while Russian peacekeepers have evacuated civilians and recorded ceasefire violations. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan criticized Russia for not providing information about Azerbaijan’s plans, describing the situation as “strange and perplexing.”
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