Russian defense minister arrives in Iran amid escalation in … Anadolu Agency | English
Day: September 20, 2023
Pope Francis appeals for countries to silence their weapons and seek peaceful solutions in Nagorno Karabakh, as tensions flare in the South Caucasus region, the Vatican informs.
Pope Francis has appealed for arms to fall silent and for nations to seek peaceful solutions in Nagorno Karabakh.
In his remarks to Italian-speaking pilgrims at his Wednesday General Audience, the Pope expressed his concern for the humanitarian crisis in the Southern Caucasus region.
“Yesterday, I heard the disturbing news from Nagorno Karabakh, in the Southern Caucasus, where the already critical humanitarian situation is now aggravated by additional armed clashes,” said the Pope.
He urged involved parties to cease hostilities and seek peaceful solutions to the crisis.
“I address my appeal again to all the parties involved and to the International Community,” said Pope Francis, “so that they may stop using weapons and make every effort to find peaceful solutions for the good of the people and respect for human dignity.”
Azerbaijan began a military operation in Nagorno Karabakh on Tuesday.
The Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense announced the military operation, describing it as an “anti-terrorist” operation.
Де-факто власти Нагорного Карабаха приняли предложение российских миротворцев о прекращении огня, говорится в заявлении информационного центра де-факто республики. Об этом сообщает Русская служба BBC со ссылкой на заявление информационного центра де-факто республики. «В течение двух дней упорных боев подразделения Вооруженных Сил Арцаха героически оборонялись от противника, превосходившего в несколько раз в живой силе и военной […]
The roughly 85 U.S. soldiers deployed to Armenia for a military exercise are not currently facing any threats from the fighting that erupted on Tuesday over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region, defense officials said.
The soldiers have been training alongside 175 Armenian troops as part of the Eagle Partner peacekeeping training exercise, which began on Sept. 11.
On Tuesday, Azerbaijan launched a military operation against Armenian forces in Nagorno-Karabakh, which is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan but has been ruled by an ethnic Armenian government since 1994.
Despite the renewed fighting in the region, the U.S. soldiers in Armenia will not leave the country earlier than expected, said Army Col. Martin O’Donnell, a spokesman for U.S. Army Europe.
Subscribe to Task & Purpose Today. Get the latest military news and culture in your inbox daily.
Those soldiers will return to their units in Europe and the United States after the exercise ends as scheduled on Wednesday, O’Donnell told Task & Purpose.
Soldiers from the Kansas National Guard and 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Task Force Mountain hold an opening day ceremony for Eagle Partner 2023 Sept. 15, 2023 in a training area in Armenia. (Sgt. 1st Class Aaron Duncan/U.S. Army)
“We are aware of reports that Azerbaijan is conducting operations near the border of Armenia,” O’Donnell said on Tuesday. “We do not assess there to be any risk to our Soldiers at this time and they will remain in place for the duration of the exercise.”
With the Eagle Partner exercise, a handful of U.S. troops sit on Russia’s doorstep at a time when relations between Washington and Moscow are at their lowest point since the Cold War. Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the United States has committed to providing Ukraine with more than $43 billion in military assistance.
But the U.S. military has long standing connections with Armenia that predate the war in Ukraine. The Kansas National Guard has had a state partnership with Armenia since 2003 as part of the Department of Defense’s State Partnership Program.
Army Maj. Gregory Anderson, commander of the 10th Mountain Division, recently described the U.S. military’s ties with Armenia as “multifaceted and cooperative,” according to a Sept. 15 news release from the U.S. Embassy in Armenia.
Soldiers from the Kansas National Guard and 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Task Force Mountain hold an opening day ceremony for Eagle Partner 2023 Sept. 11, 2023 in a training area in Armenia.(Sgt. 1st Class Aaron Duncan/U.S. Army)
Anderson came to Armenia to observe Eagle Partner along with Army Brig. Gen. Patrick Ellis, deputy chief of staff for operations with U.S. Army Europe and Africa, the news release says.
“The U.S. has consistently extended military assistance to Armenia, especially in bolstering the nation’s capabilities in crucial areas such as nonproliferation and peacekeeping,” Anderson said during his visit.
The soldiers taking part in Eagle Partner come from the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division; Kansas Army National Guard; 4th Security Forces Assistance Brigade; 7th Army Training Command; and 21st Theater Sustainment Command, O’Donnell said. They have been training near Yerevan, Armenia’s capital.
“Eagle Partner is designed to enhance interoperability for peacekeeping operations with Armenia and prepare the Armenian 12th Peacekeeping Brigade for NATO Operational Capability Concept Evaluation and Feedback Programme evaluations later this year,” O’Donnell said.
The violence that broke out on Tuesday is the latest clash in a 35-year-old battle. Azerbaijan and Armenia fought a bloody war over the Nagorno-Karabakh from 1988 to 1994 that left Armenians in full control of the enclave.
The two countries fought again in 2020, and Azerbaijan emerged victorious after a six-week war in which it successfully used drones to destroy Armenian tanks. Azerbaijan took control of several districts in the disputed territory.
The 2020 war ended with an agreement brokered by Russian President Vladimir Putin, under which his country committed 2,000 troops to serve as peacekeepers. Since then, Russia has committed the majority of its military to its invasion of Ukraine.
U.S. military planners are closely watching the current conflict in the Nagorno-Karabakh to see how the situation develops, a defense official said.
19 сентября Министерством обороны был представлен брифинг для представителей СМИ. Выступивший на брифинге начальник пресс-службы полковник Анар Эйвазов, заявил: «Антитеррористические мероприятия локального характера, проводимые Вооруженными Силами Азербайджанской Республики в Карабахском регионе Азербайджана, успешно продолжаются.В ходе проведенных мероприятий Вооруженными Силами Азербайджана были взяты под контроль более 60 боевых позиций формирований вооруженных сил Армении. В то же время были нейтрализованы более 20 автомобилей военного назначения, более 40 артиллерийских установок, более 30 минометов, 2 зенитно-ракетные установки, более 6 станций радиоэлектронной борьбы Мартира и другие средства военного назначения, принадлежащие формированиям вооруженных сил Армении.Опубликованная на некоторых армянских ресурсах в социальных медиа информация о том, что наши подразделения якобы подвергают обстрелу гражданские объекты, носит провокационный и дезинформационный характер. Цель – подорвать имидж нашей Армии и сформировать у международной общественности неправильное представление о локальных антитеррористических мерах. Из видеороликов, размещенных на официальном сайте Министерства обороны и в аккаунтах ведомства в социальных медиа, совершенно очевидно, что наши подразделения наносят удары только по законным военным целям.В ходе антитеррористических мер локального характера в Карабахском регионе Азербайджана неоднократно наблюдалось, что формирования вооруженных сил Армении размещают в населенных пунктах бронетанковую боевую технику и огневые средства различного назначения, а также привлекают гражданских лиц на объекты военного назначения для того, чтобы не попасть под прицел подразделений Вооруженных Сил Азербайджанской Республики.Как известно, в арсенале Азербайджанской Армии имеется высокоточное оружие и боевая техника, отвечающая самым современным требованиям. Во многих случаях задачи по уничтожению военных объектов, взятых под прицел нашими профессиональными военнослужащими, с применением этих оружий, были приостановлены после обнаружения гражданских лиц на военном объекте.Еще раз заявляем, что в результате высокоточного огня выводятся из строя и обезвреживаются только долговременные огневые точки, боевая техника и военная инфраструктура, используемая в военных целях, несмотря на то, что формирования вооруженных сил Армении размещают боевую технику в населенных пунктах или в их окрестностях. Общественности регулярно представлялись видеоматериалы, связанные с упомянутыми мною фактами, подобные материалы будут представляться и впредь. Призываем членов формирований вооруженных сил Армении, находящихся в Карабахском экономическом районе Азербайджана, сложить оружие и сдаться. Рекомендуем гражданским лицам, находящимся в этом районе, ни в коем случае не приближаться к ним и не оказывать им никакой помощи. Уведомления рекомендательного характера доносятся с помощью громкоговорителя и других технических средств».
В ходе брифинга представителям СМИ были представлены видеоматериалы.
The United States is deeply concerned by Azerbaijan’s military actions in Nagorno-Karabakh and calls on Azerbaijan to cease these actions immediately, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.
“These actions are worsening an already dire humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh and undermine prospects for peace. As we have previously made clear to Azerbaijan, the use of force to resolve disputes is unacceptable and runs counter to efforts to create conditions for a just and dignified peace in the region,” Blinken stated.
“We call for an immediate end to hostilities and for respectful dialogue between Baku and representatives of the population of Nagorno-Karabakh,” he added.
At least 25 people have died, dozens were wounded as a result of the full-scale terrorist attack by Azerbaijan.
