Armenia and Azerbaijan on ‘brink of war’ after deadly clashes, as world leaders urge calm
- The worst clashes since 2016 have raised the spectre of a fresh full-scale war between long-standing rivals Azerbaijan and Armenia
- World leaders called on both sides to halt fighting over the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh
Armenia and Azerbaijan have been locked in a territorial dispute over the ethnic Armenian region of Nagorny Karabakh for decades, with deadly fighting flaring up earlier this year and in 2016.
The region declared its independence from Azerbaijan after a war in the early 1990s that claimed 30,000 lives but is not recognised by any country – including Armenia – and is still considered part of Azerbaijan by the international community.
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Armenia and Azerbaijan clash over Nagorno-Karabakh, with footage of fighting released
Fighting between Muslim Azerbaijan and majority-Christian Armenia could embroil regional players such as Russia, which has a military alliance with Armenia, and Turkey, which backs Azerbaijan.
Karabakh’s defence ministry said 27 fighters were killed in fighting on Monday – after previously reporting 28 – bringing their total military losses to 58.
The overall death toll rose to 67 including nine civilian deaths: seven in Azerbaijan and two on the Armenian side.
Azerbaijan has not reported any military casualties, but Armenian separatist officials released footage showing burnt-out armoured vehicles and the bloodied and charred remains of soldiers in camouflage it said were Azerbaijani troops.