, image = Azerbaijan 2nd Army.svg , image_size = 200px , caption = Badge of the 2nd Army Corps , dates = 3 March 1992 , country = , branch = , garrison = Beylagan , nickname = "Beylagan Army Corps" or " Pirekeshkul Army Corps" , battles =

2016 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict The 2016 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, also known as the Four-Day War,, IPA: ʰɑroɾjɑ pɑtɛɾɑzm az, Dördgünlük müharibə April War,; or April clashes, began along the Nagorno-Karabakh line of contact on 1 April 2016 with the Artsakh D ...

2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war * Aras Valley campaign *

Lachin offensive The Lachin offensive () was a military operation launched by Azerbaijan against the unrecognized Republic of Artsakh and their Armenian allies along the Armenia–Azerbaijan border during the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war, with the suspected goal o ...

, current_commander =

Mais Barkhudarov Mais Barkhudarov ( az, Mais Bərxudarov) is an Azerbaijani officer, lieutenant general of Armed Forces of Azerbaijan, who was a participant of 2016 Nagorno-Karabakh clashes and 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war. He is the current commander of the 2nd A ...

, notable_commanders = Zaur Rzayev (deputy commander) The 2nd Army Corps ( az, 2-ci Ordu Korpusu), also referred to as the Beylagan Army Corps is a regional

military formation Military organization or military organisation is the structuring of the armed forces of a state so as to offer such military capability as a national defense policy may require. In some countries paramilitary forces are included in a natio ...

of the

Azerbaijani Land Forces The Azerbaijani Land Forces ( az, Azərbaycan Silahlı Qüvvələri Quru Qoşunları) are the land force component of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces. Since the fall of the Soviet Union, Azerbaijan has been trying to create professional, well trained ...

. It is concentrated against Armenian occupied territories, specifically the

Khojavend District Khojavend District ( az, Xocavənd rayonu) is one of the 66 districts of Azerbaijan. It is located in the west of the country and belongs to the Karabakh Economic Region. The district borders the districts of Lachin, Shusha, Khojaly, Agdam, Ag ...

, and is also partially deployed on the

Azerbaijan–Iran border The Azerbaijan–Iran border ( az, Azərbaycan–İran sərhədi, fa, مرز آذربایجان و ایران) is 765 km (428 m) in length and consists of two non-contiguous sections separated by the Armenia–Iran border. Description West ...

. It is currently led by Major General

. It is currently deployed from Beylagan. Among their notable servicemen is Eyvaz Huseynov, the head of the Khojavend District Executive Power.

History

Karabakh War

The unit was established on 3 March 1992 by the relevant order of the Minister of Defense of Azerbaijan at the time, Major General Tahir Aliyev. Among the units in its ranks in the 90s was the 161st Motor Rifle Brigade. The 706th Brigade of the National Army was formed in June 1992 in Ghubatlu as part of the corps. The corps sent to the front shortly after its establishment served as the main strike force during the First Nagorno-Karabakh War in the defense of the

Fuzuli District Fuzuli District ( az, Füzuli rayonu) is one of the 66 districts of Azerbaijan. It is located in the south-west of the country and belongs to the Karabakh Economic Region. The district borders the districts of Khojavend, Aghjabadi, Beylagan, ...

, as well as

Qırmızı Bazar Karmir Shuka ( hy, Կարմիր Շուկա) or Girmizi Bazar ( az, Qırmızı Bazar) is a village ''de facto'' in the Martuni Province of the Political status of Nagorno-Karabakh, breakaway Republic of Artsakh, ''de jure'' in the Khojavend Distri ...

, Shishkaya, and Gajar. It succeeded in taking Babi, Arayatli, Mollaməhərrəmli, Əhmədalılar, Şükürbəyli and others in Fuzuli from the

Armenians Armenians ( hy, հայեր, '' hayer'' ) are an ethnic group native to the Armenian highlands of Western Asia. Armenians constitute the main population of Armenia and the ''de facto'' independent Artsakh. There is a wide-ranging diaspora ...

. After long disputes, President

Abulfaz Elchibey Abulfaz Elchibey ( az, Əbülfəz Elçibəy; 24 June 1938, in Nakhchivan – 22 August 2000, in Ankara) was an Azerbaijani political figure and a former Soviet dissident. His real name was Abulfaz Gadirgulu oghlu Aliyev (Azerbaijani: ''Əbülf ...

supported the point of view of the General Staff, phoning the command of the 2nd Corps to inform them about his decision to conduct an operation to close the Lachin corridor. In early September 1992, a group of Russian officers, led by the head of the Operations Department of the

104th Guards Airborne Division The 104th Guards Airborne Division () was a division of the Soviet Airborne Troops during the Cold War that briefly became part of the Russian Airborne Forces after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. It was originally formed as the 11th Guards A ...

, Lieutenant Colonel Vladimir Selivanov, were recalled from the headquarters of the 2nd Army Corps, who, as advisers, assisted the 2nd corps command in planning operations.

21st century

In 2013, Defence Minister

Zakir Hasanov Zakir Asker oghlu Hasanov (; born 6 June 1959) is an Azerbaijani politician and colonel general who has been the Minister of Defence of Azerbaijan since 2013. Early life and education He was born on 6 June 1959 in the Astara District. He grad ...

visited the corps, which was considered the "fortress" of former Minister

Safar Abiyev Colonel General Safar Akhundbala oglu Abiyev ( az, Səfər Axundbala oğlu Əbiyev; born January 27, 1950) was the Minister of Defense of Azerbaijan from 1995 to 2013. He was considered one of the longest serving defense ministers in the Commonw ...

, many announced changes in the leadership structures, including the promotion of about 50 officers who were not promoted during Abiyev's tenure. The corps saw action in the 2016 April War battles, where it played a major role in capturing strategic heights. During the

2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict The Second Nagorno-Karabakh War was an armed conflict in 2020 that took place in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding territories. It was a major escalation of an unresolved conflict over the region, involving Azerbai ...

, the corps took part in operations against the

Armed Forces of Armenia The Armed Forces of Armenia ( hy, Հայաստանի զինված ուժեր, Hayastani zinvats uzher), sometimes referred to as the Armenian Army ( hy, Հայկական Բանակ, Haykakan Banak), is the national military of Armenia. It consist ...

in the

. It also took part in the Aras Valley campaign and the

. On 9 October, it was announced that the city of

Hadrut Hadrut ( hy, Հադրութ, ) is a town in the Khojavend District of Azerbaijan, in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh. The town had an ethnic Armenian-majority population prior to the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war. Numerous Armenian civilian ...

and eight villages had been recaptured by the corps. By 20 October, thirteen more villages in the district came under the control of the corps. On 23 October, President Ilham Aliyev confirmed that the commander 706th Motor Rifle Brigade of the 2nd Army Corps,

Shukur Hamidov Shukur Nariman oğlu Hamidov ( az, Şükür Həmidov) (1 April 1975 – 22 October 2020) was an Azerbaijani officer, national hero and colonel of the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan. He was son to Nariman and Shargiya Hamidov. He was an enlisted memb ...

had died during operations in the

Qubadli District Qubadli District ( az, Qubadlı rayonu) is one of the 66 districts of Azerbaijan. It is located in the south-west of the country and belongs to the East Zangezur Economic Region. The district borders the districts of Lachin, Khojavend, Jabrayil, ...

Composition

* HQ ( Beylagan) * 2nd Motor Rifle Brigade * 4th Motor Rifle Brigade * 6th Motor Rifle Brigade * 8th Motor Rifle Brigade * 13th Motor Rifle Brigade * 14th Motor Rifle Brigade * 18th Motor Rifle Brigade

Decorated servicemen

A Victory parade dedicated to Victory in the Patriotic War was held at the Azadlig Square, Baku 5 (cropped)

During combat operations, a number of servicemen of the military unit were awarded honorary titles, orders and medals. Four are recipients of the title of

National Hero of Azerbaijan The National Hero of Azerbaijan ( az, Azərbaycan milli qəhrəmanı) is the highest Hero (title), national title in the Republic of Azerbaijan. The title was named on 25 March 1992, and the "Qizil Ulduz" Medal awarded as a sign of receiving this t ...

. Others awarded with orders and medals include: *

Azerbaijani Flag Order Azerbaijani Flag Order ( az, Azərbaycan Bayrağı Ordeni) is an award presented by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan. History and status Azerbaijani Flag order was among several medals and orders, requested to be reviewed and created ...

– 15 * Medal "For military service" – 9 * Medal "For the Motherland" – 1 * Medal "For Courage" – 2 * Medal of the 3rd degree for distinction in military service – 1

Commanders

* Major General Ayaz Hasanov (-until October 2014) * Major General

(since October 2014)

References

{{Azerbaijani Armed Forces 1992 establishments in Azerbaijan Military units and formations established in 1992 Army corps of Azerbaijan Military units and formations of Azerbaijan in the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war