Fighting erupted between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh.
Armenia also claimed that two Azerbaijani helicopters were shot down and three Azerbaijani tanks were hit by artillery, but Azerbaijan’s defence ministry rejected that claim.
As the fighting rages between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the disputed breakaway territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, with hundreds dead and fears regional powers Turkey and Russia could be pulled in, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo huddled with the foreign ministers of the two countries in a diplomatic bid to halt the fighting.“We publicly said we will take revenge, but on the battlefield," Aliyev said. "We do not kill civilians. We do not target religious sites.”
The concern is that this now-localized war could expand: Turkey backs Azerbaijan, and Russia is a nominal ally of Armenia.
“Our position is that all the regional countries should stay away from direct involvement in the conflict,” Aliyev said. "We are completely against the ‘internationalization’ of the conflict.”
Still, Turkey’s backing of Baku is strong and public. In addition to military gear, it's alleged by multiple sources that Turkey-allied Syrian militia are fighting alongside Azeri troops. Aliyev flatly denied the charges.
“We don’t need any mercenaries," he said. "It’s all fake news aimed at damaging the image of the country and diminishing the bravery of the soldiers on the battlefield.”
“We are ready to agree to a cease-fire,” he said, adding that such a move is conditioned on Armenia pulling out of what Azerbaijan calls “occupied” borderlands. Two past cease-fires have failed during the nearly four-week deadly battle.
Baku has come under international criticism for what’s claimed to be civilian casualties in the conflict. Residential buildings and even a landmark church have been hit by Azeri military fire. Azerbaijan says Armenia is doing the same, and the president claimed the damage is not intentional.
Heavy fighting broke out in the morning in the region that lies within Azerbaijan. It was not immediately clear what sparked the fighting, the heaviest since clashes in July killed 16 people from both sides.
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