Azerbaijan Launches Attack on Armenia’s Border Regions – Asbarez.com

Explosions attributed to artillery and drones were reported by residents of Vardenis, Jermuk, Goris, and Tatev – cities within Armenia proper – shortly after midnight on Tuesday. Armenia has blamed neighboring Azerbaijan for the attack, RT reported.

Shots are being fired “along the entire line of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border,” and the government in Yerevan has called an urgent meeting, according to local media.

The Armenian Defense Ministry said the army of Azerbaijan has used heavy artillery and drones are also being used. A Turkish-made Bayraktar drone was allegedly shot down over Vardenis, which is in northern Armenia and not adjacent to the disputed region of Nagorno Karabakh. Armenian troops are “giving an adequate response,” Yerevan said.

The intense firefight which began as a result of the large-scale Azerbaijani provocation still continues, according to the Armenian Ministry of Defense spokesperson Aram Torosyan. “The exchange of intensive gunfire sparked by the large-scale Azerbaijani provocation is continuing,” he said.

“The Armed Forces of Armenia are taking adequate countermeasures. The Ministry of Defense will regularly issue official updates on the developments,” added Torosyan.

Starting at 12:05 a.m. on September 13, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces launched intense artillery and large caliber firearm shelling of Armenian positions in the direction of Goris, Sotk and Jermuk.

The Azerbaijani forces are also using UAVs in the attack, the Armenian Ministry of Defense said.

Armenia’s Defense Ministry said that the “intensive” shelling began shortly after midnight. It gave no other details.