Armenia, Azerbaijan Continue to Exchange Fire over Nagorno-Karabakh Region (+Video)
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The battles and exchange of fire continued between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region, as the Armenian army shelled Azerbaijani city of Ganja, while new Azeri strikes targeted Stepanakert.
Armenian media reported that the Azerbaijani forces continued bombarding Stepanakert City, the capital of the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh.
“They are striking again, there are damages and civilian victims,” Armenian Defense Ministry representative Artsrun Hovhannisyan told ARMENPRESS.
He said that the Azerbaijani forces have also bombed Stepanakert with air strikes, in addition to rocket attacks.
Earlier the Armenian Defense Ministry released images showing the destruction of civilian infrastructure by the Azeri bombardments using prohibited cluster munitions.
Meanwhile, Turkish media reported that the Armenian armed forces have shelled Azerbaijan’s second largest city Ganja, in a new escalation to the conflict which flared up last week.
In a statement, Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry said Armenian armed forces are firing rockets in Fizuli region from Armenia, and heavy artillery in Aghdam and Terter regions from "occupied territories."
The enemy shelled Ganja city from Armenia, it said.
Defense Minister Zakir Hasanov said shelling Azerbaijan's territories from Armenia is "provocative and expands the zone of hostilities."
Separately, Hikmet Hajiyev, an assistant to Azerbaijan's president, on Twitter said "indiscriminate missile attacks are launched against Ganja, Füzuli, Tartar and Jabrayil cities of Azerbaijan from territory of Armenia."
He added: "Ganja is the second biggest city of Azerbaijan. 500.000+ population."
Border clashes broke out last Sunday in Nagorno-Karabakh, a region within Azerbaijan that has been controlled by Armenian forces since the end of a separatist war a quarter-century ago. Fighting has continued unchecked since then, killing dozens and leaving scores wounded. Armenian and Azerbaijani forces blame each other for continuing attacks.
