southfront--2020-10-04--Armenia Reportedly Bombed Azerbaijani Airbase Hosting Turkish F-16 Fighter Jets (Updated)

On October 4 , the government of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic ( a self-proclaimed Armenia-affiliated state located in the contested Nagorno-Karabakh region ) announced that Armenian forces had destroyed the military air base near Azerbaijan ’ s Ganja .
This air base reportedly hosted F-16 fighter jets of Turkey .
The claim was made by the Press Secretary of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic ( Artsakh ) President Vahram Poghosyan .
Ganja is the airport serving Azerbaijan ’ s second largest city , it is also used by the Azerbaijani Air and Air Defence Force and was previously used by the Soviet Air Force @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Silk Way Airlines , which are quite known for their weapons deliveries to conflict zones in the Middle East .
Azerbaijan claimed that the Armenian strike targeted the city of Ganja itself , while the Armenian side insists that the strike hit the military air base only .
A day earlier , on October 3 , Armenian media claimed that the Armenian military attacked another Azerbaijani military airbase hosting Turkish F-16 fighters .
the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan published unique footage of striking certain objects near the Azerbaijani settlement of Sabirkend .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Air Force of Azerbaijan , located just a few kilometers from the settlement of Sabirkend , was hit .
According to earlier reports , it is at this airbase that Turkish F-16 fighters are located .
According to the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan , at least 10 tactical missiles “ Tochka-U ” were fired at the territory of the village of Sabirkend , but no disclosing information that there ’ s an important military base located there .
According to analysts , Sabirkend itself is of no interest to the military @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , however , the destruction of the air base can become a very serious problem for Baku , especially if Turkish F-16 fighters are indeed based here , as previously reported The forces of Armenia are very much inferior in their power to the Air Force of Azerbaijan , so Armenia could really be trying to target such capabilities to even the field .
According to open sources , MiG-25 interceptor fighters are located at Dallar airbase .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Armenia Claims Success In Repelling Azerbaijan , As Shelling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Political , Economic And Geopolitical Factors In The Equation

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On October 4, the government of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (a self-proclaimed Armenia-affiliated state located in the contested Nagorno-Karabakh region) announced that Armenian forces had destroyed the military air base near Azerbaijan’s Ganja. This air base reportedly hosted F-16 fighter jets of Turkey.
The claim was made by the Press Secretary of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (Artsakh) President Vahram Poghosyan.
Ganja is the airport serving Azerbaijan’s second largest city, it is also used by the Azerbaijani Air and Air Defence Force and was previously used by the Soviet Air Force.
It is also commonly used by Silk Way Airlines, which are quite known for their weapons deliveries to conflict zones in the Middle East.
Azerbaijan claimed that the Armenian strike targeted the city of Ganja itself, while the Armenian side insists that the strike hit the military air base only.
A day earlier, on October 3, Armenian media claimed that the Armenian military attacked another Azerbaijani military airbase hosting Turkish F-16 fighters.
Armenian media reported striking the largest Azerbaijani airbase.
the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan published unique footage of striking certain objects near the Azerbaijani settlement of Sabirkend.
One of the largest air bases of the Air Force of Azerbaijan, located just a few kilometers from the settlement of Sabirkend, was hit. According to earlier reports, it is at this airbase that Turkish F-16 fighters are located.
According to the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan, at least 10 tactical missiles “Tochka-U” were fired at the territory of the village of Sabirkend, but no disclosing information that there’s an important military base located there.
According to analysts, Sabirkend itself is of no interest to the military forces of Armenia and the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, however, the destruction of the air base can become a very serious problem for Baku, especially if Turkish F-16 fighters are indeed based here, as previously reported
The forces of Armenia are very much inferior in their power to the Air Force of Azerbaijan, so Armenia could really be trying to target such capabilities to even the field. According to open sources, MiG-25 interceptor fighters are located at Dallar airbase.
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southfront--2020-10-04--Armenia Claims Success In Repelling Azerbaijan, As Shelling Of Stepanakert Continues

Throughout October 3rd , Azerbaijan ’ s forces continued shelling Stepanakert , the capital of Nagorno-Karabakh .
Shelling continues on the morning of October 4th .
Throughout the day , the Armenian Army and those of Artsakh ( Nagorno-Karabakh ) reportedly managed to repel an Azerbaijani attack and even carry out a limited counteroffensive .
Heavy fighting continues in almost every direction .
There are videos published of Azerbaijani heavy equipment being destroyed while forces are withdrawing from some positions The President of Artsakh Araik Harutyunyan continues to be on the frontline .
“ I ’ m on the front @ @ @ @ @ @ @ national security services of Armenia and Artsakh are also with me .
Our guys perform combat tasks brilliantly .
I am inspired by the spirit of professionalism of our military , as well as the dedication of our volunteers .
We are firmly on the front line and in the rear .
Once again , I call on all Armenians to join the defense of their homeland.
” Azerbaijan ’ s forces appear to be massing near the Shamkhor area , and preparing an offensive .
Notably , almost immediately after hostilities began @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off its airspace to both Azerbaijan and Armenia , but it appears that it has only closed it off to Yerevan forces .
In a counteroffensive , Goradiz in Azerbaijan is burning , the Artsakh Defense Army is reportedly pushing ack in some directions .
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan issued a video statement in which he said that the war wouldn ’ t end until the enemy was destroyed and that Yerevan ’ s forces would be victories in the end .
In a press briefing , Artsakh Republic Foreign Minister Masis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ puppet in the hands of Turkey .
At the same briefing , Mayilyan said that there were several ways to establish peace , one of them was what Armenia ’ s forces were doing – namely defeating the enemy forces .
Armenia ’ s side released another video showing casualties and damages suffered by Azerbaijan ’ s side .
Interestingly , an “ old acquaintance ” has resurfaced with more activity – the airways implicated in illegal arms smuggling – Silk Way Airlines appears to have increased its activity in flying to Baku @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quite a bit of military support in addition to deploying jihadists , several videos were published purportedly showing Turkish vehicles delivering weapons to Azerbaijan .
The Azerbaijani side also claims success in dealing with the Armenian forces .
There are several videos showing shelling and drone strikes .
So far , Azerbaijan ’ s biggest success is capturing the town of Magadiz , a video was published showing soldiers taking down the Armenian flag .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Armenia And Azerbaijan : Political , Economic And Geopolitical Factors In The @

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Throughout October 3rd, Azerbaijan’s forces continued shelling Stepanakert, the capital of Nagorno-Karabakh.
Shelling continues on the morning of October 4th.
Throughout the day, the Armenian Army and those of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) reportedly managed to repel an Azerbaijani attack and even carry out a limited counteroffensive.
Heavy fighting continues in almost every direction.
There are videos published of Azerbaijani heavy equipment being destroyed while forces are withdrawing from some positions
The President of Artsakh Araik Harutyunyan continues to be on the frontline.
“I’m on the front line now. The heads of the national security services of Armenia and Artsakh are also with me. Our guys perform combat tasks brilliantly. I am inspired by the spirit of professionalism of our military, as well as the dedication of our volunteers. We are firmly on the front line and in the rear. Once again, I call on all Armenians to join the defense of their homeland.”
Azerbaijan’s forces appear to be massing near the Shamkhor area, and preparing an offensive.
Notably, almost immediately after hostilities began, Georgia reported that it had closed off its airspace to both Azerbaijan and Armenia, but it appears that it has only closed it off to Yerevan forces.
In a counteroffensive, Goradiz in Azerbaijan is burning, the Artsakh Defense Army is reportedly pushing ack in some directions.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan issued a video statement in which he said that the war wouldn’t end until the enemy was destroyed and that Yerevan’s forces would be victories in the end.
In a press briefing, Artsakh Republic Foreign Minister Masis Mayilyan said that Azerbaijan was simply a puppet in the hands of Turkey.
At the same briefing, Mayilyan said that there were several ways to establish peace, one of them was what Armenia’s forces were doing – namely defeating the enemy forces.
Armenia’s side released another video showing casualties and damages suffered by Azerbaijan’s side.
Interestingly, an “old acquaintance” has resurfaced with more activity – the airways implicated in illegal arms smuggling – Silk Way Airlines appears to have increased its activity in flying to Baku.
As evidence that Turkey is providing quite a bit of military support in addition to deploying jihadists, several videos were published purportedly showing Turkish vehicles delivering weapons to Azerbaijan.
The Azerbaijani side also claims success in dealing with the Armenian forces. There are several videos showing shelling and drone strikes.
So far, Azerbaijan’s biggest success is capturing the town of Magadiz, a video was published showing soldiers taking down the Armenian flag.
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southfront--2020-10-04--Armenia And Azerbaijan: Political, Economic And Geopolitical Factors In The Equation

As the armed conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh continues , it becomes more likely that their overall resources and economic strength will be of increasing importance to their capacity to sustain prolonged combat operations and endure the heavy economic costs this entails .
In almost all relevant aspects of their respective economic situation and resources , Azerbaijan enjoys substantial benefits .
With approximately three times the population and Gross Domestic Product ( GDP ) , the latter boosted substantially by large oil and gas reserves , Azerbaijan appears to be better situated to dominate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a big advantage in terms of overall military forces and equipment .
Azerbaijan also has a big advantage in terms of logistics and transport , as Armenia is landlocked and shares long borders with Azerbaijan and Turkey , both of which are hostile States and have closed their borders with Armenia for many years .
Armenia ’ s only other borders are with Georgia and Iran , both of which are reluctant to become embroiled in hostilities ( openly , at least ) .
Nonetheless , both countries ( Armenia and Azerbaijan ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and neither can afford a long and costly war .
Although their leadership can count on a surge of ‘ patriotism ’ in the short term , they risk setting the stage for severe political instability and unrest and economic hardship in the long term .
While Turkey ’ s ( and also Israel ’ s ) active military support for Azerbaijan provides a major boost to its military capabilities at the most critical time , they can not expect Russia , and possibly other European countries ( particularly France ) , to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ major losses on the battlefield and the overall status quo between Armenia and Azerbaijan is threatened .
Nagorno-Karabakh .
known as Artsakh by Armenians , is a mountainous landlocked region in the South Caucasus with a population of approximately 150,000 .
Nagorno-Karabakh is a disputed territory , internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan , but mostly governed by the Republic of Artsakh , a independent state with an Armenian ethnic majority established on the basis of the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast of the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic .
Azerbaijan has not exercised political authority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the end of the Nagorno-Karabakh War in 1994 , representatives of the governments of Armenia and Azerbaijan have been holding peace talks mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group ( co-chaired by France , the United States and Russia ) concerning the region ’ s status .
The region is usually defined by the borders of the former Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast within the Soviet Union , which had a total area of 4,400 square kilometres .
Under the Soviet central planning system , Armenia had developed a substantial industrial sector , supplying machine tools @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to other republics in the USSR , importing raw materials and energy as well as manufactured goods .
Armenia has since closed down most of the large industrial complexes of the Soviet era .
Armenia has only two borders through which it can trade , Iran and Georgia .
Its borders with Azerbaijan and Turkey have been closed since 1991 and 1993 , respectively , due to the ongoing conflict with Azerbaijan over the Nagorno-Karabakh region .
Overall , agriculture accounts for approximately 17 % of GDP and 36 % of employment ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , industry and manufacturing about 28 % of GDP and 17 % of employment ( including brandy , mining , machine tools and industrial machinery , electric motors , clothing and apparel , microelectronics , jewellery , chemicals , trucks and food processing ) , and services account for 55 % of GDP and 47 % of employment .
Armenia joined the World Trade Organization in January 2003 .
The government has implemented some reforms in tax and customs administration in recent years , but corruption remains a big problem .
Armenia ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ base have made it vulnerable to volatility in the global commodity markets .
Numerous economic sectors in Armenia are also dependent on Russian commercial and governmental support , as key Armenian infrastructure is Russian-owned and/or managed , especially in the energy sector .
Remittances from expatriates working in Russia amount to about 12-14 % of GDP .
The economy is also heavily dependent on remittances from ex-patriate Amenians in other countries such as France and the United States .
Armenia joined the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union in January 2015 , but is interested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as well , signing a Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement with the EU in November 2017 .
The economy was hit hard in the second quarter of 2020 due to the coronavirus outbreak and government measures to contain it , with GDP collapsing 13.7 % on an annual basis after having grown 3.9 % at the outset of the year .
Private consumption fell dramatically as overall economic activity , particularly in April , plummeted , as did capital spending .
Exports also plummeted by over a third due to an abrupt fall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restrictions .
Although most sectors of the economy have reopened , some restrictions remain in place , including the closure of borders .
In 2017 Armenia ’ s total exports amounted to $ 2.4 billion , up from $ 1.9 billion in 2016 .
Major export products in 2017 included unwrought copper , pig iron , nonferrous metals , gold , diamonds , mineral products , foodstuffs , brandy , cigarettes , and energy .
Most exports went to Russia 24.2 % , Bulgaria 12.8 % , Switzerland 12 % , Georgia 6.9 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 5.5 % , Iraq 5.4 % , UAE 4.6 % , Netherlands 4.1 % .
Total imports in 2017 amounted to $ 3.771 billion , up from $ 2.835 billion in 2016 .
Major imports included natural gas , petroleum , tobacco products , foodstuffs , diamonds , pharmaceuticals , and cars .
Most imports were from Russia 28 % , China 11.5 % , Turkey 5.5 % , Germany 4.9 % , Iran 4.3 % .
Prior to the decline in global oil prices in 2014 , Azerbaijan experienced high economic growth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oil exports through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Pipeline , the Baku-Novorossiysk Pipeline , and the Baku-Supsa Pipeline are the main sources of export earnings , but efforts to boost gas production are also underway .
The expected completion of the Southern Gas Corridor ( SGC ) between Azerbaijan and Europe will open up another source of revenue from gas exports .
The first gas exports to Turkey through the SGC were produced in 2018 , with project completion expected by 2021 .
Azerbaijan has also made limited progress with combating public and private sector corruption @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in non-energy sectors .
Although trade with Russia and other former Soviet republics remains significant , Azerbaijan has expanded trade with Turkey and Europe and is trying to expand non-oil/gas exports , mainly in the agricultural sector .
It is also upgrading Baku airport and the Caspian Sea port of Alat with the objective of raising its profile as a regional transportation and logistics hub .
Overall , agriculture contributes approximately 6 % of GDP and 37 % of employment ( including fruit , vegetables , cereals , cotton and livestock ) , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % of GDP and 14 % of employment ( including petroleum and petroleum products , natural gas , oilfield equipment ; steel , iron ore ; cement ; chemicals and petrochemicals ; textiles ) , and services contribute 40 % of GDP and 49 % of employment .
Long-term economic prospects depend heavily on oil and gas demand and market prices , as well as its ability to diversify the economic base .
Towards the end of 2016 , the president approved a strategic roadmap for economic reforms to expand and consolidate key @ @ @ @ @ @ @ logistics , information technology , and tourism .
In October 2017 , the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway , stretching from the Azerbaijani capital to Kars in north-eastern Turkey , started to operate .
Azerbaijan ’ s economy shrank 2.7 % on an annual basis during the first half of the year as the Covid-19 heavily affected output in the second quarter of 2020 .
The global recession , lower oil prices and crude production will also affect exports and government revenues .
Total exports as of 2017 amounted to $ 15.15 billion , up from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and gas accounted for approximately 90 % of total exports as of 2017 , with other significant exports including machinery , foodstuffs and cotton .
Most exports went to Italy 23.2 % , Turkey 13.6 % , Israel 6.1 % , Russia 5.4 % , Germany 5 % , Czech Republic 4.6 % , Georgia 4.3 % .
Total imports as of 2017 amounted to $ 9.037 billion , up from $ 9.004 billion in 2016 , major import items including machinery and equipment , foodstuffs , metals , and chemicals .
Most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Turkey 14.8 % , China 9.9 % , the US 8.3 % , Ukraine 5.3 % and Germany 5.1 % .
Both countries have been rocked by mass mobilizations and protests for many years , generally against corruption , poor living conditions , bad government and widespread poverty in particular .
While protests have generally tapered off in Armenia over the last year , they have continued in Azerbaijan and been met with heavy repression by State security forces .
The protests in Armenia , over the years leading up to the change @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) of 2018 , closely resemble in some respects the factors that led up to and followed the coup in Bolivia late last year .
In Bolivia , somehow , out of the violence , disorder and chaos , a little known representative from a political party that won less than 10 % of the vote ended up at the head of the post-coup regime .
Who just happened to immediately adopt all the policies the US had been pushing for since Evo Morales was first elected president , including immediately privatizing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ State-owned enterprises , cancelling lithium contracts that had been negotiated with China , and expelling Venezuela ’ s diplomatic staff and recognising the traitor and wannabe usurper Juan Guaido as ‘ president ’ of Venezuela .
Expected mass mobilizations and protests in Azerbaijan corresponded with the launching of the offensive in late September ( a prominent opposition figure was due to face trial on 28 September ) , raising a legitimate suspicion that Azerbaijan ’ s long time president Ilham Aliyev may share one of Benjamin Netanyahu ’ s favourite tactics – that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when times get tough politically .
A news item in Azerbaijan from about a week before fighting started reported : The number of Azerbaijani cargo planes landing at Israeli air force bases in the Negev peaked sharply just before and after the outbreak of hostilities , Haaretz has reported .
The frequency and timing of the flights by the Ilyushin Il-76 aircraft – two of which landed at Uvda last Thursday , just two days before the latest outbreak of hostilities between Azerbaijan and Armenia , followed by two more planes on Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taken for the preparation and replenishing of Azerbaijani forces .
It seems that Azerbaijan had a similar premonition prior to the outbreak of hostilities earlier this year : The timing and nature of the two offensives , a relatively minor assault in July followed up by a major offensive in September , suggests the possibility that the former may have been designed to ‘ test the defences ’ and finalize planning for the main attack .
Israel and Azerbaijan are major trading partners .
The two countries have signed defence agreements together , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over half of its weapons .
Israel gets a large amount of its oil and natural gas from Azerbaijan in return ( as well as good diplomatic and economic relations with a country that shares a long border with Israel ’ s arch enemy Iran ) .
A statement from Iran ’ s foreign ministry several days after the outbreak of hostilities seemed a bit strange .
After the usual allusions to international law , territorial integrity and the urgency of initiating dialogues between the belligerent parties so that they and the region @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the statement said ‘ stability ’ will be achieved “ when the occupation ends ” .
Iran has reason to be deeply concerned by the latest outbreak in hostilities as it shares borders with both Armenia and Azerbaijan .
Shortly after the latest clashes erupted , Iran called on the two sides to exercise restraint and work towards dialogue .
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif held separate phone calls with his counterparts in Armenia and Azerbaijan on Sunday of last week , during which he urged them to hold talks within @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a phone conversation between senior government officials from Iran and Azerbaijan on Wednesday , Iran emphasized that it respects Azerbaijan ’ s territorial integrity and categorically denied rumours and accusations of weapons going to Armenia from Iranian territory as an attempt to damage relations between the two countries .
This raises the question , ‘ occupation ’ by whom ?
The people ‘ occupying ’ Nagorno-Karabakh are the same people that have been living there for many generations .
There has been no suggestion that they invaded and either exterminated or displaced Azeris @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over their land , resources and property .
However , it appears very likely that if the offensive by Azerbaijan is successful , this is precisely what will occur – on a massive scale : killing , forced displacements and another flood of destitute and terrorized refugees .
Presumably their property will pass to economically and politically-connected Azeris and predatory ‘ foreign investors ’ ( presumably Turkish and Israeli investors would receive favourable consideration ) .
Maybe the authorities will transfer some lower grade properties to poor families or homeless people , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh is much more analogous to , for example , the Crimea reunifying with Russia , rather than , say , the Turkish invasion of northern Syria .
In the former case , a region where people of Russian ethnicity constitute an overwhelming majority voted peacefully to reunite with Russia .
And if a referendum were held tomorrow on whether they would prefer to remain with Russia or return to being a part of Ukraine , it is a very safe bet that the result would be the same – 80 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to stay with Russia .
Moreover , no people of Ukrainian ( or other ) ethnicity were dispossessed of their property , forcibly displaced or forcibly deported to Ukraine in the process .
In northern Syria , the Turks entered as hostile invaders , taking advantage of the widespread conflict and chaos ( which they had contributed to fomenting ) to occupy regions along the border , forcibly evict many of the people that inhabited those areas and take over their property and resources , and then give those properties and resources to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the colonization project to change the demographics on the ground .
Another potentially significant aspect , Armenia was the first Christian nation , and Nagorno-Karabakh has many ancient monasteries and other sites with invaluable and irreplaceable archaeological and religious treasures .
It appears some would like to add it to the list of countries whose archaeological heritage has been destroyed and pillaged in recent times : Iraq , Syria , Yemen , Afghanistan… If it appears that the status quo is about to be irrevocably broken and Azerbaijan is on the point of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will happen to the inhabitants .
Will they be massacred and forcibly displaced en masse , or will they be permitted to remain ?
If the ‘ international community ’ decides to do something before finding out whether it will be an all-out genocide or just a huge series of massacres and forced evictions , what can they do ?
The European Union can do nothing .
France can do nothing .
Germany can do nothing .
The United States could launch missiles , but that is unlikely .
In fact , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ strategists in the US ( and the UK as well ) are very pleased with the prospect of another couple of impoverished , conflict ridden failed States on Russia ’ s borders .
Only Russia and Iran are practically in a position to do something to change the equation in Armenia ’ s favour , and Turkey and Israel ’ s increasingly open intervention surely provides just cause given Armenia and Russia ’ s mutual defence agreements and longstanding alliance and military cooperation .
Iran has already stated it supports Azerbaijan ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and added the paradoxical and disconcerting opinion that only when the occupation ends will there be peace .
That leaves Russia .
While all indications are that Russia is understandably extremely reluctant to go to war with Azerbaijan – with the added risk that it will also be drawn into a war with Turkey , which shows no sign of backing off from its opportunistic military intervention in the conflict – a ‘ limited strike ’ against Azerbaijan ’ s offensive units and weapons platforms is the most likely response if Russia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a slaughter .
Dozens of missiles launched against airports , command and control centres and communications networks , drone operation centres and forward armoured units would probably be sufficient to bring things back towards the ‘ status quo ’ situation .
Would Turkey take the fatal step of confronting Russia in open combat ?
Would it try to drag NATO into a war , one that for Turkey is a ‘ war of choice ’ ?
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As the armed conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh continues, it becomes more likely that their overall resources and economic strength will be of increasing importance to their capacity to sustain prolonged combat operations and endure the heavy economic costs this entails.
In almost all relevant aspects of their respective economic situation and resources, Azerbaijan enjoys substantial benefits. With approximately three times the population and Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the latter boosted substantially by large oil and gas reserves, Azerbaijan appears to be better situated to dominate a war of attrition, also enjoying a big advantage in terms of overall military forces and equipment.
Azerbaijan also has a big advantage in terms of logistics and transport, as Armenia is landlocked and shares long borders with Azerbaijan and Turkey, both of which are hostile States and have closed their borders with Armenia for many years. Armenia’s only other borders are with Georgia and Iran, both of which are reluctant to become embroiled in hostilities (openly, at least).
Nonetheless, both countries (Armenia and Azerbaijan) are heavily burdened by public debt, and neither can afford a long and costly war. Although their leadership can count on a surge of ‘patriotism’ in the short term, they risk setting the stage for severe political instability and unrest and economic hardship in the long term.
While Turkey’s (and also Israel’s) active military support for Azerbaijan provides a major boost to its military capabilities at the most critical time, they cannot expect Russia, and possibly other European countries (particularly France), to remain idle if Armenia begins to suffer major losses on the battlefield and the overall status quo between Armenia and Azerbaijan is threatened.
Nagorno Karabakh
Nagorno-Karabakh. known as Artsakh by Armenians, is a mountainous landlocked region in the South Caucasus with a population of approximately 150,000.
Nagorno-Karabakh is a disputed territory, internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, but mostly governed by the Republic of Artsakh, a de facto independent state with an Armenian ethnic majority established on the basis of the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast of the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic.
Azerbaijan has not exercised political authority over the region since 1988. Since the end of the Nagorno-Karabakh War in 1994, representatives of the governments of Armenia and Azerbaijan have been holding peace talks mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group (co-chaired by France, the United States and Russia) concerning the region’s status.
The region is usually defined by the borders of the former Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast within the Soviet Union, which had a total area of 4,400 square kilometres.
Armenia Azerbaijan Population 3 million 10.1 million Area 29, 740 square km 86,600 square km GDP $13.8 billion $48 billion GDP/ capita $4,650 $5,880 Unemployment 17.9% 5.5% Budget (2017 est.) $3,200 million $10,220 million Public Debt (2017) 53.5% of GDP 54% of GDP Military Budget $225 million, 4.25% of GDP $3.2 billion Military Personnel 45,000 (171,000 reserves) 67,000 (307,000)
Armenia’s Economy and Resources
Under the Soviet central planning system, Armenia had developed a substantial industrial sector, supplying machine tools, textiles, and other manufactured goods to other republics in the USSR, importing raw materials and energy as well as manufactured goods.
Armenia has since closed down most of the large industrial complexes of the Soviet era. Armenia has only two borders through which it can trade, Iran and Georgia. Its borders with Azerbaijan and Turkey have been closed since 1991 and 1993, respectively, due to the ongoing conflict with Azerbaijan over the Nagorno-Karabakh region.
Overall, agriculture accounts for approximately 17% of GDP and 36% of employment (including fruits, vegetables and livestock), industry and manufacturing about 28% of GDP and 17% of employment (including brandy, mining, machine tools and industrial machinery, electric motors, clothing and apparel, microelectronics, jewellery, chemicals, trucks and food processing), and services account for 55% of GDP and 47% of employment.
Armenia joined the World Trade Organization in January 2003. The government has implemented some reforms in tax and customs administration in recent years, but corruption remains a big problem.
Armenia’s geographic isolation and a narrow export base have made it vulnerable to volatility in the global commodity markets. Numerous economic sectors in Armenia are also dependent on Russian commercial and governmental support, as key Armenian infrastructure is Russian-owned and/or managed, especially in the energy sector.
Remittances from expatriates working in Russia amount to about 12-14% of GDP. The economy is also heavily dependent on remittances from ex-patriate Amenians in other countries such as France and the United States. Armenia joined the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union in January 2015, but is interested in pursuing closer ties with the EU as well, signing a Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement with the EU in November 2017.
The economy was hit hard in the second quarter of 2020 due to the coronavirus outbreak and government measures to contain it, with GDP collapsing 13.7% on an annual basis after having grown 3.9% at the outset of the year.
Private consumption fell dramatically as overall economic activity, particularly in April, plummeted, as did capital spending. Exports also plummeted by over a third due to an abrupt fall in demand from trading partners and travel restrictions.
Although most sectors of the economy have reopened, some restrictions remain in place, including the closure of borders.
In 2017 Armenia’s total exports amounted to $2.4 billion, up from
$1.9 billion in 2016. Major export products in 2017 included unwrought copper, pig iron, nonferrous metals, gold, diamonds, mineral products, foodstuffs, brandy, cigarettes, and energy. Most exports went to Russia 24.2%, Bulgaria 12.8%, Switzerland 12%, Georgia 6.9%, Germany 5.9%, China 5.5%, Iraq 5.4%, UAE 4.6%, Netherlands 4.1%.
Total imports in 2017 amounted to $3.771 billion, up from $2.835 billion in 2016. Major imports included natural gas, petroleum, tobacco products, foodstuffs, diamonds, pharmaceuticals, and cars. Most imports were from Russia 28%, China 11.5%, Turkey 5.5%, Germany 4.9%, Iran 4.3%.
Azerbaijan’s Economy and Resources
Prior to the decline in global oil prices in 2014, Azerbaijan experienced high economic growth due mainly to rising energy exports. Oil exports through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Pipeline, the Baku-Novorossiysk Pipeline, and the Baku-Supsa Pipeline are the main sources of export earnings, but efforts to boost gas production are also underway.
The expected completion of the Southern Gas Corridor (SGC) between Azerbaijan and Europe will open up another source of revenue from gas exports. The first gas exports to Turkey through the SGC were produced in 2018, with project completion expected by 2021.
Azerbaijan has also made limited progress with combating public and private sector corruption and reducing structural economic inefficiencies, particularly in non-energy sectors.
Although trade with Russia and other former Soviet republics remains significant, Azerbaijan has expanded trade with Turkey and Europe and is trying to expand non-oil/gas exports, mainly in the agricultural sector. It is also upgrading Baku airport and the Caspian Sea port of Alat with the objective of raising its profile as a regional transportation and logistics hub.
Overall, agriculture contributes approximately 6% of GDP and 37% of employment (including fruit, vegetables, cereals, cotton and livestock), the industrial sector and manufactures contributes 54% of GDP and 14% of employment (including petroleum and petroleum products, natural gas, oilfield equipment; steel, iron ore; cement; chemicals and petrochemicals; textiles), and services contribute 40% of GDP and 49% of employment.
Long-term economic prospects depend heavily on oil and gas demand and market prices, as well as its ability to diversify the economic base. Towards the end of 2016, the president approved a strategic roadmap for economic reforms to expand and consolidate key non-energy economic sectors, including agriculture, logistics, information technology, and tourism. In October 2017, the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, stretching from the Azerbaijani capital to Kars in north-eastern Turkey, started to operate.
Azerbaijan’s economy shrank 2.7% on an annual basis during the first half of the year as the Covid-19 heavily affected output in the second quarter of 2020. The global recession, lower oil prices and crude production will also affect exports and government revenues.
Total exports as of 2017 amounted to $15.15 billion, up from $13.21 billion in 2016. Oil and gas accounted for approximately 90% of total exports as of 2017, with other significant exports including machinery, foodstuffs and cotton. Most exports went to Italy 23.2%, Turkey 13.6%, Israel 6.1%, Russia 5.4%, Germany 5%, Czech Republic 4.6%, Georgia 4.3%.
Total imports as of 2017 amounted to $9.037 billion, up from $9.004 billion in 2016, major import items including machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, metals, and chemicals. Most imports were from Russia 17.7%, Turkey 14.8%, China 9.9%, the US 8.3%, Ukraine 5.3% and Germany 5.1%.
Widespread Political Protests
Both countries have been rocked by mass mobilizations and protests for many years, generally against corruption, poor living conditions, bad government and widespread poverty in particular. While protests have generally tapered off in Armenia over the last year, they have continued in Azerbaijan and been met with heavy repression by State security forces.
The protests in Armenia, over the years leading up to the change of government (or regime change operation) of 2018, closely resemble in some respects the factors that led up to and followed the coup in Bolivia late last year. In Bolivia, somehow, out of the violence, disorder and chaos, a little known representative from a political party that won less than 10% of the vote ended up at the head of the post-coup regime.
Who just happened to immediately adopt all the policies the US had been pushing for since Evo Morales was first elected president, including immediately privatizing the nation’s resources and extremely successful State-owned enterprises, cancelling lithium contracts that had been negotiated with China, and expelling Venezuela’s diplomatic staff and recognising the traitor and wannabe usurper Juan Guaido as ‘president’ of Venezuela.
Expected mass mobilizations and protests in Azerbaijan corresponded with the launching of the offensive in late September (a prominent opposition figure was due to face trial on 28 September), raising a legitimate suspicion that Azerbaijan’s long time president Ilham Aliyev may share one of Benjamin Netanyahu’s favourite tactics – that of ‘warming up the frontiers’ when times get tough politically.
A news item in Azerbaijan from about a week before fighting started reported:
Heightened security measures expected due to potential for protests associated with opposition leaders’ court case in Baku on September 28; remain vigilant and avoid any demonstrations TIMEFRAME expected from 9/22/2020, 11:00 PM until 9/29/2020, 10:59 PM (Asia/Baku).COUNTRY/REGION Baku Security measures are expected to be stepped up in Baku on Monday, September 28, due to the potential for protests associated with the court case of detained opposition leader Tofiq Yagublu. Protests by opposition supporters are possible in the vicinity of the Court of Appeal on Ayna Sultanova and around other government buildings. A heightened security presence is anticipated around the courthouse and other potential protests sites on Monday and any demonstrations which do occur are likely to be forcibly dispersed by security forces. Context Yagublu was arrested in March on charges of hooliganism and was released under house arrest on September 22, pending the outcome of his appeal, after he agreed to end a 17-day hunger strike. Advice Those in Baku are advised to monitor developments, avoid demonstrations and political gatherings as a precaution, and adhere to all instructions issued by local authorities… LINK
Weapons Shipments
The number of Azerbaijani cargo planes landing at Israeli air force bases in the Negev peaked sharply just before and after the outbreak of hostilities, Haaretz has reported. The frequency and timing of the flights by the Ilyushin Il-76 aircraft – two of which landed at Uvda last Thursday, just two days before the latest outbreak of hostilities between Azerbaijan and Armenia, followed by two more planes on Tuesday and Wednesday – suggest steps were being taken for the preparation and replenishing of Azerbaijani forces.
It seems that Azerbaijan had a similar premonition prior to the outbreak of hostilities earlier this year:
The conflict has been more or less frozen since 1994 when Armenia occupied not only Karabakh itself, which is ethnically Armenian, but several districts surrounding it, which are not… Things are spinning in a different direction now with offensive fighting, and pro-war rallies in Baku. Several weeks prior to the start of fighting in July I personally saw lots of Green Evergreen containers, freight forwarding company, crossing the Georgian border. Border guards and customs officials both told me that it was not possible to check them, but agreed that weapons were within. LINK
The timing and nature of the two offensives, a relatively minor assault in July followed up by a major offensive in September, suggests the possibility that the former may have been designed to ‘test the defences’ and finalize planning for the main attack.
Israel and Azerbaijan are major trading partners. The two countries have signed defence agreements together, and Israel provides the Azeri military with over half of its weapons. Israel gets a large amount of its oil and natural gas from Azerbaijan in return (as well as good diplomatic and economic relations with a country that shares a long border with Israel’s arch enemy Iran).
Hikmet Hajiyev, assistant to the president of Azerbaijan, told Israeli media that the Azeri military has been using Israeli-made attack drones in the recent violence. Hajiyev said that the Azeris “very much appreciate the cooperation with Israel, especially the defence cooperation.” So far, Israel has largely remained silent on the fighting in Nagorno-Karabakh. When asked if this silence bothered the Azeris, Hajiyev said, “No, no, Israel and Azerbaijan understand our situation” and cited multiple agreements between the two countries. LINK
‘Occupation’?
A statement from Iran’s foreign ministry several days after the outbreak of hostilities seemed a bit strange. After the usual allusions to international law, territorial integrity and the urgency of initiating dialogues between the belligerent parties so that they and the region can begin moving towards stability and peace, the statement said ‘stability’ will be achieved “when the occupation ends”.
Iran has reason to be deeply concerned by the latest outbreak in hostilities as it shares borders with both Armenia and Azerbaijan. Shortly after the latest clashes erupted, Iran called on the two sides to exercise restraint and work towards dialogue.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif held separate phone calls with his counterparts in Armenia and Azerbaijan on Sunday of last week, during which he urged them to hold talks within the framework of international law.
During a phone conversation between senior government officials from Iran and Azerbaijan on Wednesday, Iran emphasized that it respects Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and categorically denied rumours and accusations of weapons going to Armenia from Iranian territory as an attempt to damage relations between the two countries.
“The stance of the Islamic Republic on Azerbaijan has always been clear and transparent as it has always recognised the neighbouring country’s territorial integrity and respected it,” Mahmoud Vaezi, President Hassan Rouhani’s chief of staff, told Azerbaijani Deputy Prime Minister Shahin Mustafayev in a phone call on Wednesday. “We believe the end of occupation will bring stability to the region,” the Iranian official was quoted as saying by the government’s website. Vaezi emphasized that Azerbaijan holds an important place in Iranian foreign policy and said Tehran will always strive to develop and boost bilateral ties with its neighbour. He also expressed Iran’s deep concern regarding the armed conflict, saying Iran was ready to mediate between Azerbaijan and Armenia to begin negotiations “within the framework of international laws”. LINK
This raises the question, ‘occupation’ by whom? The people ‘occupying’ Nagorno-Karabakh are the same people that have been living there for many generations. There has been no suggestion that they invaded and either exterminated or displaced Azeris who were living there before and took over their land, resources and property.
However, it appears very likely that if the offensive by Azerbaijan is successful, this is precisely what will occur – on a massive scale: killing, forced displacements and another flood of destitute and terrorized refugees. Presumably their property will pass to economically and politically-connected Azeris and predatory ‘foreign investors’ (presumably Turkish and Israeli investors would receive favourable consideration). Maybe the authorities will transfer some lower grade properties to poor families or homeless people, as a populist gesture.
The situation of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh is much more analogous to, for example, the Crimea reunifying with Russia, rather than, say, the Turkish invasion of northern Syria. In the former case, a region where people of Russian ethnicity constitute an overwhelming majority voted peacefully to reunite with Russia. And if a referendum were held tomorrow on whether they would prefer to remain with Russia or return to being a part of Ukraine, it is a very safe bet that the result would be the same – 80%, 90% or more voting to stay with Russia. Moreover, no people of Ukrainian (or other) ethnicity were dispossessed of their property, forcibly displaced or forcibly deported to Ukraine in the process.
In northern Syria, the Turks entered as hostile invaders, taking advantage of the widespread conflict and chaos (which they had contributed to fomenting) to occupy regions along the border, forcibly evict many of the people that inhabited those areas and take over their property and resources, and then give those properties and resources to newly arrived Turks or other collaborators in the colonization project to change the demographics on the ground.
Another potentially significant aspect, Armenia was the first Christian nation, and Nagorno-Karabakh has many ancient monasteries and other sites with invaluable and irreplaceable archaeological and religious treasures. It appears some would like to add it to the list of countries whose archaeological heritage has been destroyed and pillaged in recent times: Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Afghanistan…
International Intervention
If it appears that the status quo is about to be irrevocably broken and Azerbaijan is on the point of taking over Nagorno-Karabakh by force, what will happen to the inhabitants. Will they be massacred and forcibly displaced en masse, or will they be permitted to remain?
If the ‘international community’ decides to do something before finding out whether it will be an all-out genocide or just a huge series of massacres and forced evictions, what can they do? The European Union can do nothing. France can do nothing. Germany can do nothing. The United States could launch missiles, but that is unlikely. In fact, it is quite possible that the ‘deep’ strategists in the US (and the UK as well) are very pleased with the prospect of another couple of impoverished, conflict ridden failed States on Russia’s borders.
Only Russia and Iran are practically in a position to do something to change the equation in Armenia’s favour, and Turkey and Israel’s increasingly open intervention surely provides just cause given Armenia and Russia’s mutual defence agreements and longstanding alliance and military cooperation.
Iran has already stated it supports Azerbaijan’s right to ‘territorial integrity’, and added the paradoxical and disconcerting opinion that only when the occupation ends will there be peace.
That leaves Russia. While all indications are that Russia is understandably extremely reluctant to go to war with Azerbaijan – with the added risk that it will also be drawn into a war with Turkey, which shows no sign of backing off from its opportunistic military intervention in the conflict – a ‘limited strike’ against Azerbaijan’s offensive units and weapons platforms is the most likely response if Russia should feel compelled to intervene to prevent a slaughter.
Dozens of missiles launched against airports, command and control centres and communications networks, drone operation centres and forward armoured units would probably be sufficient to bring things back towards the ‘status quo’ situation.
Would Turkey take the fatal step of confronting Russia in open combat? Would it try to drag NATO into a war, one that for Turkey is a ‘war of choice’?
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southfront--2020-10-04--Armenian National Security Service Released Audio Tapes Allegedly Confirming Participation Of Turkis

Armenian National Security Service Released Audio Tapes Allegedly Confirming Participation Of Turkish Military In Karabakh War

The National Security Service of Armenia released a video allegedly confirming the participation of the Turkish Air Force and Arab @ @ @ @ @ in the contested Nagorno-Karabakh region ( the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic ) .
The video includes conversations @ @ @ @ @ members .
In one of the conversations , the remarks include details regarding the flight @ @ @ @ @ particular , the city of Yevlakh ) .
Then alleged Turkish pilots request permission to @ @ @ @ @ Ganja .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Azerbaijani Combat Drones Inflict More Losses On @ @ @ @ @ Videos ) • Dozens Of Syrian Mercenaries Killed In Nagorno-Karabakh In Last 48 Hours : @ @

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The National Security Service of Armenia released a video allegedly confirming the participation of the Turkish Air Force and Arab mercenaries in the Azerbaijani advance in the contested Nagorno-Karabakh region (the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic).
The video includes conversations between Turkish and Azerbaijani service members. In one of the conversations, the remarks include details regarding the flight conditions and coordinates (in particular, the city of Yevlakh). Then alleged Turkish pilots request permission to return to the base in Ganja.
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southfront--2020-10-04--Azerbaijani Combat Drones Inflict More Losses On Armenian Forces In Nagorno-Karabakh (Videos)

Armenian forces in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh are sustaining serious material and human losses as a result of Azerbaijani @ @ @ @ @ Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense released on October 3 new videos showing a number of drone @ @ @ @ @ in the last 48 hours .
The strikes destroyed or damaged the following equipment : @ @ @ @ @ on a mortar position and what appears to be an airstrike with heavy munitions on @ @ @ @ @ Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2 combat drones , acquired by Azerbaijan earlier this year , are responsible @ @ @ @ @ and MAM-C small-diameter laser-guided munitions are the main armament of the drone .
Both are @ @ @ @ @ forces .
Despite sustaining heavy losses , Armenian forces are still holding onto most of @ @ @ @ @ Azerbaijani troops are struggling to advance .
MORE ON THIS TOPIC : • Armenian-Azerbaijani Hostilities @ @ @ @ @ Days Of War

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Armenian forces in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh are sustaining serious material and human losses as a result of Azerbaijani combat drones attacks.
The Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense released on October 3 new videos showing a number of drone strikes that targeted Armenian forces in the last 48 hours.
The strikes destroyed or damaged the following equipment:
9 T-73 battle tanks;
2 BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicles;
2 MT-LB armored vehicles;
2 BM-21 multiple rocket launchers.
The videos also show strike on a mortar position and what appears to be an airstrike with heavy munitions on a base in Nagorno-Karabakh.
Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2 combat drones, acquired by Azerbaijan earlier this year, are responsible for these strikes. MAM-L and MAM-C small-diameter laser-guided munitions are the main armament of the drone. Both are likely being used by Azerbaijani forces.
Despite sustaining heavy losses, Armenian forces are still holding onto most of their positions in Nagorno-Karabakh. Azerbaijani troops are struggling to advance.
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southfront--2020-10-04--Dozens Of Syrian Mercenaries Killed In Nagorno-Karabakh In Last 48 Hours: Monitoring Group

36 Turkish-backed Syrian militants were killed by Armenian forces in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh in the last 48 hours , the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights ( SOHR ) reported on October 3 .
Hundreds of Turkish-backed Syrian militants have been supporting the Azerbaijani Armed Forces ’ offensive operations in Nagorno-Karabakh since outbreak of the battle there on September 27 .
According to the London-based monitoring group , a total of 64 Syrian militants have been killed in Nagorno-Karabakh , thus far .
Despite the mounting losses , more and more Syrian militants are arriving in Azerbaijan .
As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Syrians fighting in Nagorno-Karabakh is estimated by the SOHR to be over 1,200 .
Most of these militants are from the Turkmen ethnicity .
Originally , Syrian militants were told that they would be “ guarding ” oil facilities in Azerbaijan .
They were also promised a monthly payment of $ 1,500 to 2,000 .
Some of the Syrian militants now fighting Armenian forces in Nagorno-Karabakh were allegedly transported from Libya , where they were fighting for the Turkish-backed Government of National Accord .
Their success in Libya has apparently encourage Ankara to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MORE ON THIS TOPIC : • Armenian-Azerbaijani Hostilities Still Gaining Momentum After 6 Days Of War

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36 Turkish-backed Syrian militants were killed by Armenian forces in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh in the last 48 hours, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported on October 3.
Hundreds of Turkish-backed Syrian militants have been supporting the Azerbaijani Armed Forces’ offensive operations in Nagorno-Karabakh since outbreak of the battle there on September 27.
“Syrian mercenaries were shoved to the frontlines there [in Nagorno-Karabakh],” the SOHR said in its report.
According to the London-based monitoring group, a total of 64 Syrian militants have been killed in Nagorno-Karabakh, thus far.
Despite the mounting losses, more and more Syrian militants are arriving in Azerbaijan. As of October 3, the number of Syrians fighting in Nagorno-Karabakh is estimated by the SOHR to be over 1,200. Most of these militants are from the Turkmen ethnicity.
Originally, Syrian militants were told that they would be “guarding” oil facilities in Azerbaijan. They were also promised a monthly payment of $1,500 to 2,000.
Some of the Syrian militants now fighting Armenian forces in Nagorno-Karabakh were allegedly transported from Libya, where they were fighting for the Turkish-backed Government of National Accord. Their success in Libya has apparently encourage Ankara to implement the same strategy with Azerbaijan.
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southfront--2020-10-04--SouthFront Is a Crowdfunded Endeavour

SouthFront Is a Crowdfunded Endeavour

The year of 2020 has been marked by a number of negative tendencies and crises .
This includes the global economic crisis , the COVID-19 outbreak , the increase of chances of a US-Iranian war in the Middle East , the Armenian-Azerbaijani war and others .
These developments are accompanied by the increasing censorship against independent media organizations and activists .
Euro-Atlantic structures have been contributing extensive efforts to silence independent points of view .
SouthFront is one of the targets of this campaign .
The pressure faced by our team is unprecedented .
Despite this , our team is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your support , SouthFront survived in the previous months and even was able to keep most of its coverage ( including text analyses , exclusive videos , maps and infographics ) .
Since October 1 , we ’ ve collected 180 USD .
This is about 3.6 % of the monthly budget needed to continue SouthFront work and further .
Unlike propaganda structures funded by the Euro-Atlantic establishment , SouthFront operates thanks to the audience ’ s donations .
We will not be able to survive without your help .
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SOUTHFRONT CONTINUES ITS FIGHT AGAINST CENSORSHIP
The year of 2020 has been marked by a number of negative tendencies and crises. This includes the global economic crisis, the COVID-19 outbreak, the increase of chances of a US-Iranian war in the Middle East, the Armenian-Azerbaijani war and others.
These developments are accompanied by the increasing censorship against independent media organizations and activists. Euro-Atlantic structures have been contributing extensive efforts to silence independent points of view. SouthFront is one of the targets of this campaign. The pressure faced by our team is unprecedented.
Despite this, our team is not going to surrender. Thanks to your support, SouthFront survived in the previous months and even was able to keep most of its coverage (including text analyses, exclusive videos, maps and infographics).
SUPPORT OUR WORK
Since October 1, we’ve collected 180 USD. This is about 3.6% of the monthly budget needed to continue SouthFront work and further.
Unlike propaganda structures funded by the Euro-Atlantic establishment, SouthFront operates thanks to the audience’s donations. We will not be able to survive without your help.
SUPPORT SOUTHFRONT WORK:
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Donate via VISA, PayPal, Paysafecard, Bitcoin and other options.
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SouthFront: Analysis & Intelligence Team
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southfront--2020-10-04--Azerbaijani President Claims His Troops Captured Mataghis In Nagorno-Karabakh

Azerbaijan ’ s President Ilham Aliyev announced on October 3 that his country ’ s armed forces had captured the town of Mataghis from Armenian forces .
Other towns and villages that are allegedly under control of Azerbaijani forces are Talysh , Mehdili , Chakhirli , Ashagi Maralyan , Sheybey , Quycaq and Ashagi Abdurrahmanli .
Earlier today , the Azerbaijani media reported the capture of an Armenian base next to Mataghis , which is located in the northeastern part of the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh .
The Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan has not released footage to confirm the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Meanwhile , the Ministry of Defense of Armenia is yet to comment on the Azerbaijani President ’ s claims .
In the morning , Shushan Stepanyan , Press Secretary of the Armenian MoD , announced that a large-scale Azerbaijani attack on Nagorno-Karabakh was repelled .
Stepanyan didn ’ t provide any further information .
The battle in Nagorno-Karabakh , which began on September 27 , has not seen any real advance by Azerbaijani forces , thus far .
If the capture of Mataghis is confirmed , the situation will likely escalate further .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for now .
Both Azerbaijan and Armenia appear to be unwilling to step back and engage in talks .
The Azerbaijani military released a video showing some of the captured positions : MORE ON THIS TOPIC : • Armenian-Azerbaijani Hostilities Still Gaining Momentum After 6 Days Of War

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Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev announced on October 3 that his country’s armed forces had captured the town of Mataghis from Armenian forces.
Other towns and villages that are allegedly under control of Azerbaijani forces are Talysh, Mehdili, Chakhirli, Ashagi Maralyan, Sheybey, Quycaq and Ashagi Abdurrahmanli.
Earlier today, the Azerbaijani media reported the capture of an Armenian base next to Mataghis, which is located in the northeastern part of the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh.
“Today, the Azerbaijani army raised the Azerbaijani flag over Mataghis. Mataghis is ours, Karabakh is Azerbaijani,” President Aliyev wrote on Twitter.
The Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan has not released footage to confirm the capture of Mataghis, so far. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defense of Armenia is yet to comment on the Azerbaijani President’s claims.
In the morning, Shushan Stepanyan, Press Secretary of the Armenian MoD, announced that a large-scale Azerbaijani attack on Nagorno-Karabakh was repelled. Stepanyan didn’t provide any further information.
The battle in Nagorno-Karabakh, which began on September 27, has not seen any real advance by Azerbaijani forces, thus far. If the capture of Mataghis is confirmed, the situation will likely escalate further.
A ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh is unlikely as for now. Both Azerbaijan and Armenia appear to be unwilling to step back and engage in talks.
The Azerbaijani military released a video showing some of the captured positions:
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southfront--2020-10-04--17 ISIS Terrorists Killed In Raqqa, Deir Ezzor Clashes

Heavy clashes between the Syrian Arab Army ( SAA ) and ISIS terrorists are still taking place in the country ’ s central region .
Late on October 2 , ISIS terrorists attacked a checkpoint of the army next to the town of Resafa in the southern Raqqa countryside .
Between eight to ten service members were killed as a result of the attack , that was repelled .
ISIS terrorists also launched an attack on positions of the SAA in the western countryside of Deir Ezzor .
At least three soldiers were killed .
However , the attack was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Observatory for Human Rights , ISIS sustained losses in both attacks as well as in a new wave of Russian airstrikes .
At least 17 terrorists were killed , while many others were injured .
The terrorists likely launched their new attacks from their hideouts in Homs desert , which lays between eastern Homs and western Deir Ezzor .
On October 1 , 11 Syrian soldiers and 7 terrorists have been killed in clashes in the southern Homs countryside and the Hama-Aleppo-Raqqa triangle .
ISIS terrorists are desperately attempting to expand their influence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The army and its allies are making immense effort to contain the group .
MORE ON THIS TOPIC :

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Heavy clashes between the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and ISIS terrorists are still taking place in the country’s central region.
Late on October 2, ISIS terrorists attacked a checkpoint of the army next to the town of Resafa in the southern Raqqa countryside. Between eight to ten service members were killed as a result of the attack, that was repelled.
ISIS terrorists also launched an attack on positions of the SAA in the western countryside of Deir Ezzor. At least three soldiers were killed. However, the attack was foiled.
According to the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, ISIS sustained losses in both attacks as well as in a new wave of Russian airstrikes. At least 17 terrorists were killed, while many others were injured.
The terrorists likely launched their new attacks from their hideouts in Homs desert, which lays between eastern Homs and western Deir Ezzor.
On October 1, 11 Syrian soldiers and 7 terrorists have been killed in clashes in the southern Homs countryside and the Hama-Aleppo-Raqqa triangle.
ISIS terrorists are desperately attempting to expand their influence in central Syria beyond the Homs desert. The army and its allies are making immense effort to contain the group.
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southfront--2020-10-04--Armenian-Azerbaijani Hostilities Still Gaining Momentum After 6 Days Of War

On October 3 , Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan addressed the nation regarding the ongoing war with Azerbaijan and the current situation in the contested Nagorno-Karabakh region .
He declared that high-ranking Turkish military personnel are in Azerbaijan and are leading the hostilities against the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic ( an Armenia-affiliated self-proclaimed state ) .
According to Pashinyan , the developments of the previous day showed that 150-200 soldiers of Azerbaijan attack every military position of the military of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic ( formally known as the Republic of Artsakh ) .
These attacks are repeated several times during a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conventional artillery , armored vehicles , aircrafts and UAVs .
According to him , Nagorno-Karabakh has been fighting against “ an Azerbaijani-Turkish terrorist attack , the volume and scale of which is unprecedented.
” Pashinyan claimed that despite numerous casualties and losses of military equipment from the Karabakh side , “ the enemy was unable to solve a single tactical problem , ” and “ intense fighting continues.
” “ The resilience with which our soldiers , officers , generals and volunteers withstand this heinous attack is unbelievable .
Our soldiers and volunteers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heroism .
Today hundreds of armored vehicles , dozens of airplanes and helicopters , hundreds of UAVs of the adversary have already been destroyed .
Manpower losses of the adversary are over a few thousands .
AT this moment fierce clashes continue in different parts of the frontline , in some cases the Defense Army units have appeared in rather unfavorable situation , in other places confidently keep control of the situation , ” Pashinyan said .
According to the Prime Minister of Armenia , “ Turkey and Azerbaijan pursue not only military-political @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issue of territories.
” According to Pashinyan , Armenia is “ able to defend itself , ” and the end of the current conflict can only be the victory of the Armenian side .
Meanwhile , in an interview with Al Jazeera , published on October 3 , Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev stated that his country can not afford any more ‘ futile ’ negotiations with Armenia .
“ We are not in a position to listen to statements like ‘ Stop it , we will work [ with you ] , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We have heard this many times .
We do not have time to wait for another 30 years .
The conflict must be resolved now , ” he said adding that that the ( military ) settlement to the conflict with Armenia must be found “ as soon as possible.
” Armenia and Azerbaijan are indeed in the state of de-facto war .
The ongoing Armenian-Azerbaijani war has likely become the first military conflict of such a scale between two state actors of the comparable power .
Even now , after the 6 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clear that the final number of casualties will be counted in thousands .
While so far the Azerbaijani side has in fact has not achieved any real breakthrough on the ground , the ongoing military confrontation has once again demonstrated a successful employment of the concept of the wide-scale usage of unmanned aerial vehicles : reconnaissance , aerial targets , loitering munitions and drones carrying bombs and missiles .
This allow the Azerbaijani side , with an apparent help from Turkey , to successfully detect , uncover and strike Armenian artillery and fortified @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claims about the supposed usage of Turkish F-16 jets to cover the employed UAVs , the Azerbaijani side gained a full control in the air dimension .
In own turn , the Armenian side had time to conduct an extensive engineering work preparing a wide network of fortified positions across the region .
This allows Armenian forces to keep most of their positions despite the air dominance of Azerbaijan .
In the current format , the conflict has been developing under a more or less classic scenario with the consistent frontline , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Nonetheless , their gains were limited and as of the fourth day of the war , it entered into the phase of artillery duels amid the Azerbaijani air campaign .
Up to 80 % of casualties of the both sides are a result of rocket , artillery or air strikes .
Nonetheless , forces of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republics and Armenian units ( which Erevan calls ‘ volunteers ’ ) are an underdog in the event of the large-scale prolonged conflict with the Azerbaijani-Turkish bloc , even if Armenia openly enters the conflict @ @ @ @ @ @ @ war will significantly depend on the ability of Azerbaijan ( with help from Turkey and its mercenaries/militants ) to use its air and numerical advantage to develop the advance and make some gains while the regional diplomatic situation allows this .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Increasing Presence Of Radical Militants In Karabakh Boosts Chances Of Russian Intervention In Armenian-Azerbaijani War

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On October 3, Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan addressed the nation regarding the ongoing war with Azerbaijan and the current situation in the contested Nagorno-Karabakh region. He declared that high-ranking Turkish military personnel are in Azerbaijan and are leading the hostilities against the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (an Armenia-affiliated self-proclaimed state).
“According to our military, in addition to the Azerbaijani army units, Syrian mercenaries and terrorists, special units of the Turkish army are involved in the attacks. We have information that 150 high level Turkish military officers are in different Azerbaijani command centers and control the military operations. What I mentioned here show how fierce clashes are taking place on the frontline,” he said.
According to Pashinyan, the developments of the previous day showed that 150-200 soldiers of Azerbaijan attack every military position of the military of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (formally known as the Republic of Artsakh). These attacks are repeated several times during a day and are supported by missile and conventional artillery, armored vehicles, aircrafts and UAVs.
According to him, Nagorno-Karabakh has been fighting against “an Azerbaijani-Turkish terrorist attack, the volume and scale of which is unprecedented.” Pashinyan claimed that despite numerous casualties and losses of military equipment from the Karabakh side, “the enemy was unable to solve a single tactical problem,” and “intense fighting continues.”
“The resilience with which our soldiers, officers, generals and volunteers withstand this heinous attack is unbelievable. Our soldiers and volunteers spare nothing and demonstrate unimaginable acts of heroism. Today hundreds of armored vehicles, dozens of airplanes and helicopters, hundreds of UAVs of the adversary have already been destroyed. Manpower losses of the adversary are over a few thousands. AT this moment fierce clashes continue in different parts of the frontline, in some cases the Defense Army units have appeared in rather unfavorable situation, in other places confidently keep control of the situation,” Pashinyan said.
According to the Prime Minister of Armenia, “Turkey and Azerbaijan pursue not only military-political goals, there is not only the issue of territories.”
“Their goal is the Armenians, their goal is the continuation of the Armenian genocide,” he said.
According to Pashinyan, Armenia is “able to defend itself,” and the end of the current conflict can only be the victory of the Armenian side.
Meanwhile, in an interview with Al Jazeera, published on October 3, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev stated that his country cannot afford any more ‘futile’ negotiations with Armenia.
“We are not in a position to listen to statements like ‘Stop it, we will work [with you], we will negotiate, we will help.’ We have heard this many times. We do not have time to wait for another 30 years. The conflict must be resolved now,” he said adding that that the (military) settlement to the conflict with Armenia must be found “as soon as possible.”
Armenia and Azerbaijan are indeed in the state of de-facto war. The ongoing Armenian-Azerbaijani war has likely become the first military conflict of such a scale between two state actors of the comparable power. Even now, after the 6 days of war, it is already clear that the final number of casualties will be counted in thousands.
While so far the Azerbaijani side has in fact has not achieved any real breakthrough on the ground, the ongoing military confrontation has once again demonstrated a successful employment of the concept of the wide-scale usage of unmanned aerial vehicles: reconnaissance, aerial targets, loitering munitions and drones carrying bombs and missiles. This allow the Azerbaijani side, with an apparent help from Turkey, to successfully detect, uncover and strike Armenian artillery and fortified positions. Regardless the reality of Armenian claims about the supposed usage of Turkish F-16 jets to cover the employed UAVs, the Azerbaijani side gained a full control in the air dimension.
In own turn, the Armenian side had time to conduct an extensive engineering work preparing a wide network of fortified positions across the region. This allows Armenian forces to keep most of their positions despite the air dominance of Azerbaijan.
In the current format, the conflict has been developing under a more or less classic scenario with the consistent frontline, which Azerbaijani forces try to push and further. Nonetheless, their gains were limited and as of the fourth day of the war, it entered into the phase of artillery duels amid the Azerbaijani air campaign. Up to 80% of casualties of the both sides are a result of rocket, artillery or air strikes.
Nonetheless, forces of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republics and Armenian units (which Erevan calls ‘volunteers’) are an underdog in the event of the large-scale prolonged conflict with the Azerbaijani-Turkish bloc, even if Armenia openly enters the conflict. Therefore, the outcome of the war will significantly depend on the ability of Azerbaijan (with help from Turkey and its mercenaries/militants) to use its air and numerical advantage to develop the advance and make some gains while the regional diplomatic situation allows this.
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southfront--2020-10-04--Azerbaijan Officially Declares Push For ‘Military Solution’ Of Karabakh Question

On September 4 , Azerbaijan ’ s President Ilham Aliyev claimed that Azerbaijani forces are “ chasing ” Armenians like “ dogs ” and demanded the full withdrawal of Armenian forces , the Armenian recognition of Karabakh as a sovereign Azerbaijani territory and the official apology from Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to the Azerbaijani nation .
On top of this , Aliyev emphasized that a military solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh question is on the table and criticized 28 years of unsuccessful negotiations .
“ I have heard a lot that the conflict has no military solution .
Firstly , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Secondly , if there is no military path , then give us a non-military path , a diplomatic path .
Implement the UN Security Council resolutions , ” Aliyev said in an interview with Al Arabiya .
“ If international the community can not ensure the implementation of international resolutions , Azerbaijan will do it itself , this is happening now “ In his remarks , Aliyev apparently cosplayed Turkish neo-Ottomanist President Recent Tayyip Erdogan that over the past years has become used to employ the rhetoric of this kind and provide a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ East .
Turkey is the natural strategic ally of Azerbaijan and extensively backs it in its war with Armenia .
At the same time , the so-called international community , led by Washington ( the ‘ best friend ’ of the current Armenian government ) does nothing to stop the war .
This demonstrates that the rhetoric about the democracy , freedom and human rights is no more than a blatant propaganda used by Western powers to justify the aggression in their own interests .
And when the violation of ‘ human rights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interests ( like the destabilization of the South Caucasus ) , they are happy to turn a blind eye on such developments .
In these lights , the Russian peace enforcement operation in South Ossetia in 2008 in response to the military aggression by the Saakashvily regime or the decision to return Crimea amid the emerging civil war in Ukraine look like bright examples of humanism and justice .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Turkey Is Recruiting Libyan Mercenaries To Fight In Nagorno-Karabakh – Report

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On October 4, Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev claimed that Azerbaijani forces are “chasing” Armenians like “dogs” and demanded the full withdrawal of Armenian forces, the Armenian recognition of Karabakh as a sovereign Azerbaijani territory and the official apology from Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to the Azerbaijani nation.
On top of this, Aliyev emphasized that a military solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh question is on the table and criticized 28 years of unsuccessful negotiations.
“I have heard a lot that the conflict has no military solution. Firstly, I do not agree with this. Secondly, if there is no military path, then give us a non-military path, a diplomatic path. Implement the UN Security Council resolutions,” Aliyev said in an interview with Al Arabiya. “If international the community cannot ensure the implementation of international resolutions, Azerbaijan will do it itself, this is happening now “
In his remarks, Aliyev apparently cosplayed Turkish neo-Ottomanist President Recent Tayyip Erdogan that over the past years has become used to employ the rhetoric of this kind and provide a hard power-based realpolitik in the Greater Middle East. Turkey is the natural strategic ally of Azerbaijan and extensively backs it in its war with Armenia.
At the same time, the so-called international community, led by Washington (the ‘best friend’ of the current Armenian government) does nothing to stop the war. This demonstrates that the rhetoric about the democracy, freedom and human rights is no more than a blatant propaganda used by Western powers to justify the aggression in their own interests. And when the violation of ‘human rights’ and the violence go in their interests (like the destabilization of the South Caucasus), they are happy to turn a blind eye on such developments. In these lights, the Russian peace enforcement operation in South Ossetia in 2008 in response to the military aggression by the Saakashvily regime or the decision to return Crimea amid the emerging civil war in Ukraine look like bright examples of humanism and justice.
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southfront--2020-10-04--Azerbaijani Combat Drones, Loitering Munitions Inflicted More Losses On Armenian Troops (Videos)

On October 4 , the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan shared videos of new strikes on Armenian troops in the @ @ @ @ @ The strikes , which were carried out with combat drones and loitering munitions , targeted @ @ @ @ @ Azerbaijani MoD ’ s videos also show a rocket strike on Armenian forces ’ positions @ @ @ @ @ ammunition depot in Nagorno-Karabakh .
The strikes seen in the second video were all carried @ @ @ @ @ The Azerbaijani military is known to be operating at least two types of Israeli-made loitering @ @ @ @ @ that has a range of 1,000 km and a 23 kg warhead and Elbit Systems @ @ @ @ @ 20 km range and 5 kg warhead .
Despite sustaining heavy losses as a result @ @ @ @ @ Armenian forces in Nagorno-Karabakh continue to show fierce resistance .
MORE ON THIS TOPIC : @ @ @ @ @ Soldiers Are Crushing Armenians Like ‘ Dogs ’

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On October 4, the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan shared videos of new strikes on Armenian troops in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh.
The strikes, which were carried out with combat drones and loitering munitions, targeted the following equipment:
2 2S3 Akatsiya self-propelled howitzers;
2 T-72 battle tanks;
1 BM-21 multiple rocket launcher;
1 military truck.
The Azerbaijani MoD’s videos also show a rocket strike on Armenian forces’ positions and an attack on an ammunition depot in Nagorno-Karabakh.
The strikes seen in the second video were all carried out with loitering munitions. The Azerbaijani military is known to be operating at least two types of Israeli-made loitering munitions, the IAI Harop that has a range of 1,000 km and a 23 kg warhead and Elbit Systems’ SkyStriker that has a 20 km range and 5 kg warhead.
Despite sustaining heavy losses as a result of Azerbaijani aerial attacks, Armenian forces in Nagorno-Karabakh continue to show fierce resistance.
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southfront--2020-10-04--Azerbaijani President Says His Soldiers Are Crushing Armenians Like ‘Dogs’

Azerbaijan ’ s President Ilham Aliyev has demanded Armenia to set a timetable for withdrawing from the region of Nagorno-Karabakh .
In a televised address to the nation on October 4 , Aliyev said Azerbaijani forces were advancing to recapture the region of Nagorno-Karabakh .
“ The Azeri soldier is chasing them [ Armenians ] like dogs , the Azeri soldier is standing at their posts , we have taken their weaponry , we are carrying out the mission of liberation , ” the President said .
Aliyev went on to say that Azerbaijan had waited 30 years to recapture @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forces .
Aliyev ’ s address came a few hours after a series of rocket strikes by Azerbaijani forces on the city of Stepanakert , the capital of Nagorno-Karabakh .
Civilian casualties were reported .
The Azerbaijani Armed Forces launched a large offensive against Armenian forces in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh on September 27 .
Syrian militants and allegedly Turkish troops are backing the offensive .
Azerbaijani forces managed to make some gains in the northeastern and southeastern parts of the region .
However , Armenian troops are still showing fierce resistance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Azerbaijan is not willing to accept any ceasefire as for now .
Talks with Armenia also appear to be highly-unlikely .
MORE ON THIS TOPIC : • In Videos : Armenian Forces Pound Advancing Troops And Equipment Of Azerbaijan

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Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev has demanded Armenia to set a timetable for withdrawing from the region of Nagorno-Karabakh.
In a televised address to the nation on October 4, Aliyev said Azerbaijani forces were advancing to recapture the region of Nagorno-Karabakh.
“The Azeri soldier is chasing them [Armenians] like dogs, the Azeri soldier is standing at their posts, we have taken their weaponry, we are carrying out the mission of liberation,” the President said.
Aliyev went on to say that Azerbaijan had waited 30 years to recapture its territory [Nagorno-Karabakh] from Armenian forces.
“Nagorno-Karabakh is the territory of Azerbaijan. We must return and we shall return”, he added.
Aliyev’s address came a few hours after a series of rocket strikes by Azerbaijani forces on the city of Stepanakert, the capital of Nagorno-Karabakh. Civilian casualties were reported.
The Azerbaijani Armed Forces launched a large offensive against Armenian forces in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh on September 27. Syrian militants and allegedly Turkish troops are backing the offensive.
Azerbaijani forces managed to make some gains in the northeastern and southeastern parts of the region. However, Armenian troops are still showing fierce resistance.
Aliyev’s new statements indicate that Azerbaijan is not willing to accept any ceasefire as for now. Talks with Armenia also appear to be highly-unlikely.
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southfront--2020-10-04--Azerbaijani Forces Continue Advance In Nagorno-Karabakh, Jabrayil Captured (Videos)

The Azerbaijani Armed Forces continue to advance steadily in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh .
On October 4 , President Ilham Aliyev announced the capture of the city of Jabrayil , that is located in the southeastern part of Nagorno-Karabakh near the border with Iran .
Azerbaijani Forces also captured the towns of Karkhulu , Horovlu , Shukurbeyli , Cherekan , Dashkasan , Mahmudlu , Jafarabad , Yuxari Maralyan and Dejal .
A day earlier , Azerbaijani forces captured the towns of Mehdili , Chaxirli , Ashagi Maralyan , Sheybey and Guyjag in the district of Jabrayil .
The village @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the northeastern part of Nagorno-Karabakh was also captured along with the town of Mataghis .
The Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan released a number of videos showing captured Armenian positions in different parts of Nagorno-Karabakh .
Despite losing some positions , Armenian forces continue to show fierce resistance .
The Azerbaijani Armed Forces sustained heavy losses while attempting to advance in Nagorno-Karabakh as seen in newly-released videos .
The heated battle in Nagorno-Karabakh may go on for weeks , if not months .
Both Azerbaijan and Armenia are not willing to agree on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MORE ON THIS TOPIC : • In Videos : Armenian Forces Pound Advancing Troops And Equipment Of Azerbaijan

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The Azerbaijani Armed Forces continue to advance steadily in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh.
On October 4, President Ilham Aliyev announced the capture of the city of Jabrayil, that is located in the southeastern part of Nagorno-Karabakh near the border with Iran. Azerbaijani Forces also captured the towns of Karkhulu, Horovlu, Shukurbeyli, Cherekan, Dashkasan, Mahmudlu, Jafarabad, Yuxari Maralyan and Dejal.
“Today Azerbaijan’s Army has liberated from occupation the city of Jabrayil and several surrounding villages. Long live Azerbaijan’s Army! Karabakh is Azerbaijan!,” the President wrote on Twitter.
A day earlier, Azerbaijani forces captured the towns of Mehdili, Chaxirli, Ashagi Maralyan, Sheybey and Guyjag in the district of Jabrayil. The village of Talish of the Terter district in the northeastern part of Nagorno-Karabakh was also captured along with the town of Mataghis.
The Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan released a number of videos showing captured Armenian positions in different parts of Nagorno-Karabakh.
Despite losing some positions, Armenian forces continue to show fierce resistance. The Azerbaijani Armed Forces sustained heavy losses while attempting to advance in Nagorno-Karabakh as seen in newly-released videos.
The heated battle in Nagorno-Karabakh may go on for weeks, if not months. Both Azerbaijan and Armenia are not willing to agree on a ceasefire, as for now.
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southfront--2020-10-04--In Videos: Armenian Forces Pound Advancing Troops And Equipment Of Azerbaijan

Armenian official sources released fresh footage showing intense strikes on the advancing troops and equipment of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces @ @ @ @ @ : • Turkey Is Recruiting Libyan Mercenaries To Fight In Nagorno-Karabakh – Report

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Armenian official sources released fresh footage showing intense strikes on the advancing troops and equipment of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces.
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southfront--2020-10-04--Heavy Rocket Strikes Hit Nagorno-Karabakh Capital (Videos, Photos)

On October 4 , the Azerbaijani Armed Forces carried out intense rocket strikes on the city of Stepanakert , the capital of the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh .
The strikes led to material damage in the city ’ s populated neighborhood .
According to the Armenian Unified Info-center , the strikes also resulted in civilian casualties .
The Info-center has not provided any details or numbers , yet .
Arayik Harutyunyan , President of the de facto State of Artsakh in Nagorno-Karabakh , revealed that Azerbaijani forces are targeting Stepanakert with Polonez and BM-30 Smerch multiple rocket launch systems ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are known to be operating 30 Russian-made Smerch MRLS and at least 10 Belarusian-made Polonez MRLS .
Some of the rockets that hit Stepanakert were armed with Israeli-made M095 submunitions .
This indicates that the city was also targeted with LAR-160 MRLS , which were used before against civilian areas in Nagorno-Karabakh .
Earlier in the morning , Armenian forces shelled an air base near the Azerbaijani ’ second largest city , Ganja .
A civilian was killed and at least four others were injured .
Today ’ s rocket strikes will likely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Nagorno-Karabakh is , without any doubt , still far from being over .
MORE ON THIS TOPIC : • Turkey Is Recruiting Libyan Mercenaries To Fight In Nagorno-Karabakh – Report

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On October 4, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces carried out intense rocket strikes on the city of Stepanakert, the capital of the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh.
The strikes led to material damage in the city’s populated neighborhood. According to the Armenian Unified Info-center, the strikes also resulted in civilian casualties. The Info-center has not provided any details or numbers, yet.
From the ground in #Stepanakert, in latest round of shelling earlier electricity substation suffered from the strike. https://t.co/we7fg9ZURA pic.twitter.com/tqmIDGdJ3n — A#### ?? (@aldin_ww) October 4, 2020
#Armenia also used BM-30 Smerch in today’s attack on Ganja, #Azerbaijan. Seems to be a cargo rocket but I don’t have any pictures of bomblets so I can’t be sure. pic.twitter.com/v4xqDcYr8X — A#### ?? (@aldin_ww) October 4, 2020
Another video of intense shelling on Stepanakert. 586/https://t.co/ahRAGZSuAV pic.twitter.com/7d5BOrU43Y — Rob Lee (@RALee85) October 4, 2020
Arayik Harutyunyan, President of the de facto State of Artsakh in Nagorno-Karabakh, revealed that Azerbaijani forces are targeting Stepanakert with Polonez and BM-30 Smerch multiple rocket launch systems (MRLS).
“Azerbaijani terrorist army targets civilians in Stepanakert, using Polonez & Smerch MLRS. From now on mil objects in large cities of Azerbaijan are the target of the Defense Army of Artsakh. Calling on Azerbaijani population to leave these cities to avoid inevitable loss,” Harutyunyan said on Twitter.
The Azerbaijani Armed Forces are known to be operating 30 Russian-made Smerch MRLS and at least 10 Belarusian-made Polonez MRLS.
Some of the rockets that hit Stepanakert were armed with Israeli-made M095 submunitions. This indicates that the city was also targeted with LAR-160 MRLS, which were used before against civilian areas in Nagorno-Karabakh.
Screenshots of the munitions used in the strike. 580/https://t.co/nmjYJbQ1s6 pic.twitter.com/vHuudRbHQU — Rob Lee (@RALee85) October 4, 2020
Earlier in the morning, Armenian forces shelled an air base near the Azerbaijani’ second largest city, Ganja. A civilian was killed and at least four others were injured.
Today’s rocket strikes will likely lead to more escalation. The conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh is, without any doubt, still far from being over.
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southfront--2020-10-04--India Test-Fires Nuclear-Capable Hypersonic Missile As Border Tensions Rise

For decades , India has feared a multi-front war with China and Pakistan .
By modernizing its military , along with investments in nuclear weapons and hypersonic missiles , New Delhi could be on a pathway to deter or manage conflict with either one of its nuclear-armed neighbors .
In what appears to be the second hypersonic missile test in weeks , India successfully test-fired its indigenously developed nuclear-capable hypersonic missile dubbed “ Shaurya , ” defense sources told Hindustan Times .
The state-of-the-art missile , with speeds of March 7.5 ( 5,754 mph ) , was able to conduct @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closing stages of its flight before striking a predefined target in the Bay of Bengal .
A Defence Research and Development Organisation official said Shaurya is one of the top ten missiles in the world “ with high-performance navigation and guidance systems , efficient propulsion systems , sophisticated control technologies and canisterised launch.
” The missile can be launched from canisters mounted on a truck or from missile silos buried deep underground .
The source said the missile could easily be transported by truck , allowing the mobile platform to continually be moved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pakistan to detect them with satellite imaging .
The New Indian Express said , “ the missile is capable of deceiving enemy radar aims to give India more options to hit back , in case it is attacked with nuclear weapons.
” Just weeks ago , India “ successfully ” test-fired a Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle that was capable of hitting speeds over Mach 6 ( 4,600 mph ) .
The early September launch came as India and China have been locked in a military standoff along the Line of Actual Control , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ countries , that stretches from the Ladakh region in the north to the Indian state of Sikkim .
In terms of geopolitical instabilities , the world is focused on the developments surrounding the Armenian-Azerbaijan war , but a close eye should also be kept on the Sino-Indian border .

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Originally appeared at ZeroHedge
For decades, India has feared a multi-front war with China and Pakistan. By modernizing its military, along with investments in nuclear weapons and hypersonic missiles, New Delhi could be on a pathway to deter or manage conflict with either one of its nuclear-armed neighbors.
In what appears to be the second hypersonic missile test in weeks, India successfully test-fired its indigenously developed nuclear-capable hypersonic missile dubbed “Shaurya,” defense sources told Hindustan Times.
“The surface-to-surface tactical missile was blasted off from a canister strapped to the ground launcher from launch complex 4 of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in the APJ Abdul Kalam Island around 12.10 pm and covered the desired range,” the source said.
The state-of-the-art missile, with speeds of March 7.5 (5,754 mph), was able to conduct a “maneuver” at the “closing stages of its flight before striking a predefined target in the Bay of Bengal.
A Defence Research and Development Organisation official said Shaurya is one of the top ten missiles in the world “with high-performance navigation and guidance systems, efficient propulsion systems, sophisticated control technologies and canisterised launch.”
The missile can be launched from canisters mounted on a truck or from missile silos buried deep underground. The source said the missile could easily be transported by truck, allowing the mobile platform to continually be moved and making it harder for China or Pakistan to detect them with satellite imaging.
The New Indian Express said, “the missile is capable of deceiving enemy radar aims to give India more options to hit back, in case it is attacked with nuclear weapons.”
Just weeks ago, India “successfully” test-fired a Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle that was capable of hitting speeds over Mach 6 (4,600 mph).
Successful flight test of Hypersonic Technology Demonstration Vehicle (HSTDV) from Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Launch Complex at Wheeler Island off the cost of Odisha today. pic.twitter.com/7SstcyLQVo — रक्षा मंत्री कार्यालय/ RMO India (@DefenceMinIndia) September 7, 2020
The early September launch came as India and China have been locked in a military standoff along the Line of Actual Control, a 2,175 mile disputed border between both countries, that stretches from the Ladakh region in the north to the Indian state of Sikkim.
In terms of geopolitical instabilities, the world is focused on the developments surrounding the Armenian-Azerbaijan war, but a close eye should also be kept on the Sino-Indian border.
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southfront--2020-10-04--Alleged Azerbaijani Advance In Nagorno-Karabakh On October 4 (Map Update)

Azerbaijan claimed to take control over the new areas in the Nort-East and South of the Nagorno-Karabakh .
Armenia denies @ @ @ @ @ According to several sources , the local citizens also claim that the areas were not @ @ @ @ @ No evidence of recent Azerbaijani statements has yet been presented .
• According to the @ @ @ @ @ of Talysh and Mataghis were captured from Armenian forces ; • According to Azerbaijani MoD @ @ @ @ @ Abdulrahmanli , Mehdili , Chakhirli , Ashagi Maralyan , Sheybey , Kuyjagh were captured from @ @ @ @ @ Armenian artillery shelled the town of Ganjahin the north of Nagorno-Karabakh .
MORE ON THE @ @ @ @ @ Azerbaijan : Political , Economic And Geopolitical Factors In The Equation • Armenian-Azerbaijani Hostilities Still @ @ @ @ @ Of War

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Azerbaijan claimed to take control over the new areas in the Nort-East and South of the Nagorno-Karabakh. Armenia denies the loss of territories. According to several sources, the local citizens also claim that the areas were not captured by Azerbaijani forces. No evidence of recent Azerbaijani statements has yet been presented.
According to the Azerbaijani MoD, the villages of Talysh and Mataghis were captured from Armenian forces;
According to Azerbaijani MoD, the villages of Ashagi Abdulrahmanli, Mehdili, Chakhirli, Ashagi Maralyan, Sheybey, Kuyjagh were captured from the Armenian forces;
Azerbaijani artillery shelled Stepanakert, the capital of Nagorno-Karabakh;
Armenian artillery shelled the town of Ganjahin the north of Nagorno-Karabakh.
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