OMM Redaksiyası
Three years have passed since the local anti-terror measures conducted by the Azerbaijani Army in Garabagh.
Operative Information Center-OMM reports that, in the months preceding the local anti-terror measures, Armenian armed forces formations in Azerbaijan’s Garabagh region systematically shelled Azerbaijani Army positions with weapons of various calibers, continued mining Azerbaijani territory, improved their defensive positions and increased the number of trenches and shelters, contributing to rising tensions.
Monitoring also established that the positions were reinforced with personnel, armored vehicles, artillery systems and other means of fire; units were placed on a high state of combat readiness; additional mobilization units were created; reconnaissance activities against Azerbaijani Army units were expanded; and areas cleared of mines and civilian roads were re-mined for terrorist and sabotage purposes after infiltrations behind Azerbaijani positions.
On September 19, 2023, a vehicle belonging to the State Agency for Azerbaijan Automobile Roads was disabled and civilians were killed when a mine planted in advance for terrorist purposes by reconnaissance and sabotage groups of Armenian armed forces formations in Azerbaijan’s Garabagh region exploded on the Ahmadbayli-Fuzuli-Shusha road. On the same day, servicemen were killed and wounded after a vehicle carrying military personnel of the Interior Ministry’s Internal Troops hit a mine planted by reconnaissance and sabotage groups of the Armenian armed forces.
The Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan had repeatedly stated that the continued presence of Armenian armed forces formations in Azerbaijan’s Garabagh region, in violation of the provisions of the November 10, 2020, trilateral statement, posed a serious threat to regional peace and stability.
Local anti-terror measures began in the region on September 19 to ensure implementation of the trilateral statement, prevent large-scale provocations in the Garabagh economic region, disarm and withdraw Armenian armed forces formations from Azerbaijani territory, neutralize their military infrastructure, ensure the safety of civilians returning to liberated territories as well as civilian workers and Azerbaijani servicemen involved in reconstruction, and restore Azerbaijan’s constitutional order.
As part of the measures, frontline and rear positions, long-term firing points, combat equipment and military facilities belonging to Armenian armed forces formations were disabled using precision weapons.
Civilians and civilian infrastructure were not targeted during the local anti-terror measures conducted in Azerbaijan’s Garabagh region.
Military personnel of Armenian armed forces formations, whose ammunition had run out, abandoned their positions individually and in panic.
On September 20, 2023, at 1 p.m., an agreement was reached to halt the local anti-terror measures under the following conditions:
1. Armenian armed forces formations and illegal Armenian armed groups located in Azerbaijan’s Garabagh region lay down their arms, leave combat positions and military posts, and are fully disarmed. Armenian armed forces formations leave Azerbaijani territory, and illegal Armenian armed groups are disbanded.
2. All weapons, ammunition and heavy equipment are handed over simultaneously.
3. The above-mentioned processes are carried out in coordination with the Russian peacekeeping contingent.
On September 20, President Ilham Aliyev addressed the nation.
In his address, President Ilham Aliyev said that Azerbaijan had restored its sovereignty as a result of the launch and successful completion of the anti-terror measures at around 1 p.m. on September 19, 2023.
“I must note that our servicemen demonstrated great heroism, courage and professionalism during the anti-terror measures. Despite the difficult terrain, the fortifications built by the enemy over many years through extensive engineering work, and the enemy’s positions being located on hills and in advantageous areas, our servicemen once again demonstrated heroism and professionalism and achieved significant military successes in all directions within a short period. A large part of the army illegally stationed on Azerbaijani territory by the Armenian state and not withdrawn despite Armenia’s obligations was completely destroyed. Military equipment was destroyed and disabled.
“Before the operation began, I again issued strict instructions to all our military formations that the Armenian population living in the Garabagh region must not come under attack as a result of the anti-terror measures and that civilians must be protected. We achieved this by using highly precise weapons, while the professionalism of our Armed Forces enabled civilians to feel completely safe. Instructions were also issued that civilian infrastructure must not be hit and only military infrastructure must be disabled. I would like to reiterate that the professionalism and technical capabilities of our army and all our Armed Forces enabled us to fulfill this task honorably. Once again, the Azerbaijani soldier and officer demonstrated both high professionalism and high moral qualities.
“I would like to reiterate that, as a result of the short-term local anti-terror measures, a large part of the enemy’s weapons and equipment was disabled,” the Azerbaijani President said.
Unfortunately, Azerbaijani servicemen were killed during the anti-terror measures. A total of 192 Azerbaijani Army servicemen were killed during the local anti-terror measures.
During inspections of the area in Azerbaijan’s Garabagh region, Army engineer and fortification units discovered warehouses containing large quantities of mines for various purposes and improvised explosive devices. It was established that some of the mines found in the warehouses had been manufactured in Armenia in 2021, while the improvised explosive devices had been made from artillery shells using improvised methods.
According to information available as of 6 p.m. on October 2, following the completion of the local anti-terror measures in Azerbaijan’s Garabagh region, the following confiscated military equipment, weapons and ammunition had been discovered: small arms (2,608), grenade launchers (235), guns and howitzers (60), mortars (64), anti-tank weapons (58), air-defense weapons (165), armored vehicles (31), motor vehicles (265), trailers (23), auxiliary equipment (9), missiles (1,700), artillery and howitzer shells (5,177), anti-aircraft gun shells (31,771), mortar shells (12,806), grenades (5,880), hand grenades (3,068), rounds of ammunition (2,009,970), other ammunition (5,778), optical devices (314), other devices (38), personal equipment items (1,027), mounts for various weapons (15) and other equipment (3,323).
On September 28, 2023, the separatist entity in Azerbaijan’s Garabagh region announced that it was dissolving itself. The decision was made by Samvel Shahramanyan, who headed the entity. Under the decision, all institutions and organizations of the separatist regime fully ceased operations on January 1, 2024. Thus, the so-called “Nagorno-Karabakh Republic” ceased to exist.
In addition, Azerbaijani law enforcement agencies detained and brought to Baku Arkadi Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan and Arayik Harutyunyan, who had served as the separatist entity’s “presidents” in Garabagh; former “foreign minister” David Babayan; “parliament speaker” David Ishkhanyan; generals Lyova Mnatsakanyan and David Manukyan; and former “state minister” Ruben Vardanyan.
At the same time, the Republic of Azerbaijan began practical efforts to reintegrate Armenian residents living in the Garabagh region.
It was stated that reintegration would be carried out within the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Azerbaijan, on the basis of the Constitution and laws of the Republic of Azerbaijan and its international obligations.
Everyone’s rights and freedoms, including safety, are guaranteed equally regardless of ethnic, religious or linguistic affiliation.
On October 15, 2023, President Ilham Aliyev raised the State Flag of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the cities of Aghdara, Khojaly and Khojavand, in the Asgaran settlement of Khojaly, at the Sarsang reservoir and in Khankendi.
On the same day, President Ilham Aliyev addressed the public in Khankendi, saying it was a historic day.
“We worked tirelessly to strengthen our army. We created such a strong army that the Azerbaijani Armed Forces can honorably fulfill any task today, and we proved this on the battlefield. Three years ago, during the Patriotic War, we forced the enemy to sign an act of capitulation within just 44 days, and last month, the anti-terror operation, which lasted only 23 hours, demonstrated our strength once again, with the enemy raising the white flag and surrendering. We are rightfully proud of our Armed Forces,” the Azerbaijani President said.
It should also be noted that a military parade dedicated to the third anniversary of the Victory achieved in the Patriotic War was held in Khankendi on November 8, 2023. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Ilham Aliyev, First Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva and their son Heydar Aliyev attended the parade.
As a logical consequence of the anti-terror measures, the Turkey-Russia Joint Monitoring Center, established in Aghdam on January 30, 2021, to monitor the ceasefire regime in the Garabagh region and prevent violations under a memorandum signed by the Republic of Türkiye and the Russian Federation, ceased operations on April 26, 2024.
The Russian peacekeeping contingent has also completely withdrawn from Azerbaijan.
Under an order signed by President Ilham Aliyev, September 20 is celebrated annually in the Republic of Azerbaijan as State Sovereignty Day. September 20 is also observed as the day of the cities of Khankendi, Khojaly, Khojavand and Aghdara.
