Azerbaijan and Armenia have reported new border clashes that left an unknown number of Azerbaijani troops dead.
According to international media, the fighting, which broke out early on Tuesday, marks the latest flare-up between the arch foes, who fought a war in 2020 over the contested Nagorno-Karabakh region.
Each side blamed the other for the fighting.
In a statement, Armenia’s defence ministry said Azerbaijan launched “intensive shelling” against Armenian military positions in the direction of the cities of Goris, Sok, and Jermuk at 00:05am (20:05 GMT) on Tuesday. Azerbaijani troops used drones, as well as “artillery and large-calibre firearms,” it said.
“Armenia’s armed forces have launched a proportionate response,” it added.
But Azerbaijan’s defence ministry accused Armenia of “large-scale subversive acts” near the districts of Dashkesan, Kelbajar and Lachin on the border, adding that its army positions “came under fire, including from trench mortars”.
“There are losses among [Azerbaijani] servicemen,” it said, without giving figures.
The United States said it was deeply concerned about reports of the attacks.
