BREAKING NEWS: Azeri Forces Try Infiltrating Artsakh, Armenian Soldier Killed
STEPANAKERT, NKR—An Azeri unit tried infiltrating Artsakh around 4 a.m. this morning from the contact point in Horatiz. The ensuing clashes resulted in the death of one Armenian soldier. Two others were injured.
According to the Nagorno Karabakh Republic media services, the Azeri side also suffered losses.
This is the fourth attempt in June alone by Azeri forces to penetrate the borders with Armenia and Artsakh.
Earlier incidents
A day earlier, an Azeri unit of 15 soldiers tried to infiltrate the Armenian border near the village of Vosgebar in Tavush but withdrew after incurring heavy losses.
Sources in Baku reported that five Azeri soldiers were killed and several others were wounded. There were no casualties on the Armenian side.
Sources in Baku reported that five Azeri soldiers were killed and several others were wounded. There were no casualties on the Armenian side.
The incident took place in the early hours of Tuesday, June 5.
A similar attempt was foiled on June 4, when Azeri forces tried to infiltrate the Armenian border near the Pertavan and Chinari villages in Tavush. Three Armenian soldiers were killed during the incident and several others were wounded.
How much more evidence does the OSCE need that Azerbaijan has no respect for the diplomatic process? They need to shut down the Azeri aggression before it escalates and sets the process back 20 years. This type of activity brings anger and frustration from us, but we must be disciplined and measured. They are baiting us because they are on the outside looking in. They are looking for third parties troops to intervene as peacekeepers to diminish the sovereignty of Artsakh.
Perhaps it is time Armenia prepared itself for teaching a new good lesson to Azerbaijan so that it will keep queit for a long time to come. It is clear that the Azeri’s will go on with their provocations and most probably will increase it rather than otherwise. No big hopes should be pinned on OSCE or other internaional organizations. Perhaps a pre-emptive strike at the right moment on its oil installations or oil carriers, which run at close vicinity of Artsakh, could be an option. This would cripple Azerbaijan’s economy, which feeds its war machine, without causing great human casualties. I am not suggesting that Armenia should attack first, but must seriously consider such an option and be hundred percent prepared for it should the war break out.
Arshag:
one of the reasons for these incursions is to provoke Armenians into overreacting.
Azeris desperately want Armenians to hit them back hard, so they can claim to be the victims and launch a mini-war. They don’t want a full scale war, because it will wreak their economy and they might lose big. Aliyev might be overthrown. The Aliyev clan lives like royalty; why risk it ?
What they want is to bait Armenians into invading their territory – in response to one of these provocations. Then they can launch limited scale attacks with large forces and hope to gain some territory. Then they will declare a huge victory. Aliyev will consolidate his dictatorial rule even more.
In any kind limited war we can expect maybe 150-200 Armenian troops KIA, and hundreds wounded. It is a terrible choice, but Armenian leadership is wisely limiting the inevitable losses by not taking the bait.
And any strikes on oil installations must be reserved for the worst case: if there is a full-on war, everything can be destroyed beyond repair.
In a limited strike, the damage will be repaired quickly, and Azeris will use the strike on oil installations to turn the Western (oil) interests overtly against Armenia. Western Neocon/oil interests are against Armenia now, but are restrained: any attack will give them license to openly work against RoA.
BTW: the 5 Azeri KIA admitted to by Azerbaijan is not the real number.
This is why Armenia should recognize officially the independence of Karabagh,
Sign a military agreement to defend the security of the republic then allow
Karabagh itself to deal with Azerbaidjian. Kosovo was recognized by the west, Osetia by Russia and Northen Cyprus by Turkey ,Armenians are moving to slow and listenning to foreign powers who could care less to what happens to
Karabagh .Armenians are always afraid to make a move.If the armenian army
is as strong as we say ,then whats the problem , get into a war and beat the
Azeris one more time.The longer we wait the more the Azeris will build up their army.
Richard:
are you ready to go and fight yourself ?
if you are, then why wait ? we lost 4 Armenian troops KIA and 3 that were murdered (who were not on duty and were travelling to base in a private civilian sedan). You can replace at least one of the KIA at the border.
How many wars have you been involved in ?
Have you ever been to an actual firefight ?
Yes: then go and render your services to your homeland.
No: then please stop giving advice to the leaders of RoA and Artsakh: most of them were involved in the real war and absolutely know what they are doing.
That’s why the Armenian military needs to be on high alert at all times.. Also the Armenian side needs to start sniping at will. I’m sure the Azeri soldiers don’t like dying or being wounded or being shot at very much either. Time to start destroying Azeri moral and maybe they may think twice about crossing borders.. Last the Armenian leadership needs to be much more vocal and and set stern counter warning at all times. The days of being silent to Turkish aggression is I hope over..Turks are deterred by one thing: The possibility that they themselves might die..They are predictable.
Why can’t all Armenian youth from around the world have the ability to enlist for a 2/4 year tour of the Armenian Military? I have said this again and again.. IT WOULD ONLY BE A WIN WIN FOR ALL ARMENIANS..
What makes you think that the RNK will turn down any Armenian volunteer? Any eighteen year old kid from any country nearby, is free to hitch a ride to Yerevan or better stil, Stepanakert and sign up. If you think that there should be an organized recruiting drive in the diaspora, into the military of either of the Armenian Republics, well, I agree. There is no money for it right now. Perhaps, ARF can run raffles for one way tickets. It would benefit not only Armenia, but help relieve social pressures, on local communities with unemployed young men competing for scarce resources. Syria is a perfect example. Right now, the Syrian/Armenian families should be sending their boys to Armenia for school and safety.
I think the intent of the Azeri incursion was to get the attention of the West. Azerbaijan is losing its patience regarding the indifference of the Western powers in Artsakh case. We all know that no regional power will approve a new war situation in South Caucasus. There are undesired situations in the Middle East and North African regions where things went out of control since the young man set himself on fire in Tunisia. No matter how many times Turkey promised to contain Iraq, Syria and Egypt situations it failed miserably. So, to put in simplified manner, Azerbaijan is sending messages to the parties that have stakes in the Caucasus: that I can spoil your game in Caucasus unless you pay attention to my concerns.
Surely, the Armenian leadership is playing a chess game. If I was in front of a war map, what would I do? Russia needs a land corridor to Armenia and the Turkish border. All Armenia has to do, is wait for the Azerys to invade, and then, Russia will have to intervene to protect its ally and Partener Armenia. Taking large swaths of territory, most of western Azerbaijian including the pipeline will fall in their jurisdiction. The Georgian scenario all over. Armenia will benefit from the fallout, and probably gain more territory. Any invasion from Russia, either by way of Georgia or Azerbayjian, wii benefit Armenia. Turkey will try to take Nackhitchevan, but nothing will come of it. In fact, once Azerbaijian is dismembered, into Russian, Iranian, and Armenian portions, peace will prevail. With a larger, more powerful Armenia, controlling pipeline routs, we can demand and obtain Wilsonian Armenia, and even Cilicia. It’s all about leverage.