A screenshot taken from the documentary film [1], “In the Shadow of War: Voices from Nagorno-Karabakh,” courtesy of OC Media
Armenia and Azerbaijan exchanged fire on July 28, resulting in the deadliest clash since a Russia-brokered ceasefire ended the 44-day war between Armenia and Azerbaijan in November 2020. The two countries blamed [2] each other [3] for starting the shoot-out and violating the November ceasefire [4] agreement.
According to Azerbaijan's Ministry of Defense, at least two Azerbaijanian servicemen [5] were wounded. While the Armenian Defense Ministry said [3] three Armenian servicemen were killed and four wounded. The most recent clashes come just days after the two countries traded [6] fire near the Armenian village of Yeraskh and the Azerbaijani village of Heydarabad.
Leyla Abdullayeva, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Azerbaijan said in a tweet that Armenia bore the responsibility for recent clashes:
❗️According to @wwwmodgovaz [7] positions of the Azerbaijani Army were again subjected to fire on Kalbajar section of the #Armenia [8]-#Azerbaijan [9] state border. 2 ?? servicemen wounded. Armenia bears full responsibility for the escalation of tensions along the state border of two states!
— Leyla Abdullayeva (@LAbdullayevaMFA) July 28, 2021 [10]
Meanwhile, Armenia's Ministry of Defense said, “All responsibility for the aggravation of the situation lies with the military-political leadership of Azerbaijan.” While the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said [11] in a statement that “the Azerbaijani side has been deliberately initiating escalation.”
Later that day, both sides agreed to deescalate tensions in a move proposed by Russia.
Earlier in July, both the EU and the US urged the two sides to reduce tensions.
Deeply worrying developments continue on ??-??state border. Reiterate our call for restraint and separation of forces & constructive engagement on border issues before new casualties are registered. ??stands ready to assist the sides.
— Toivo Klaar (@ToivoKlaar) July 20, 2021 [12]
????Միացյալ Նահանգները մտահոգված է Հայաստանի և Ադրբեջանի սահմանի երկայնքով գրանցվող միջադեպերով, հատկապես՝…
Posted by U.S. Embassy Yerevan [13] on Tuesday, July 20, 2021 [14]
Last year's war claimed [4] at least 6,900 lives. The ceasefire signed in November saw Azerbaijan regain control over all seven adjacent districts and parts of Nagorno-Karabakh previously controlled by ethnic Armenians.