Aras Valley Campaign
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The Aras Valley campaign (, ) was a military operation launched by
Azerbaijan Azerbaijan, officially the Republic of Azerbaijan, is a Boundaries between the continents, transcontinental and landlocked country at the boundary of West Asia and Eastern Europe. It is a part of the South Caucasus region and is bounded by ...
against the breakaway
Republic of Artsakh Artsakh ( ), officially the Republic of Artsakh or the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh ( ), was a breakaway state in the South Caucasus whose territory was internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan. Between 1991 and 2023, Artsakh cont ...
along the
Aras River The Aras is a transboundary river in the Caucasus. It rises in eastern Turkey and flows along the borders between Turkey and Armenia, between Turkey and the Nakhchivan exclave of Azerbaijan, between Iran and both Azerbaijan and Armenia, and, fin ...
in the
Azerbaijan–Iran border The Azerbaijan–Iran border (, ) is 689 km (428 mi) in length and consists of two non-contiguous sections separated by the 44-km long Armenia–Iran border. Description Western (Nakchivan) section The border starts in the north-west at t ...
during the
Second Nagorno-Karabakh War The Second Nagorno-Karabakh War was an armed conflict in 2020 that took place in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh and the Armenian-occupied territories surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh, surrounding occupied territories. It was a major esca ...
. The operations started on 27 September, with Azerbaijani advancements in
Jabrayil Jabrayil (, ) is a ghost city in Azerbaijan, nominally the administrative capital of Azerbaijan's Jabrayil District. A town with Azerbaijani majority and Armenians, Armenian plurality at various times during the Russian Empire, Russian imperial ...
and Fuzuli districts, with the initial objective to seize control of
Jabrayil Jabrayil (, ) is a ghost city in Azerbaijan, nominally the administrative capital of Azerbaijan's Jabrayil District. A town with Azerbaijani majority and Armenians, Armenian plurality at various times during the Russian Empire, Russian imperial ...
and Füzuli. On 9 October, both sides agreed to a temporary humanitarian ceasefire. After the declared ceasefire, the President of Artsakh admitted Azerbaijan had been able to achieve some success, moving the front deep into Artsakh territory; the Armenian Prime Minister announced that Armenian forces had conducted a "partial retreat". However, the ceasefire quickly broke down and the Azerbaijani advance continued. Within days Azerbaijan announced the capture of dozens of villages. The Azerbaijani forces, advancing more along the
Aras River The Aras is a transboundary river in the Caucasus. It rises in eastern Turkey and flows along the borders between Turkey and Armenia, between Turkey and the Nakhchivan exclave of Azerbaijan, between Iran and both Azerbaijan and Armenia, and, fin ...
, captured the
Khodaafarin Bridges Khudafarin Bridges or Khoda Afarin Bridges (, , ), are two arch bridges located at the border of Azerbaijan and Iran connecting the northern and southern banks of the Aras River. History Communication between the Caucasus and the historical Ir ...
and the nearby
dam A dam is a barrier that stops or restricts the flow of surface water or underground streams. Reservoirs created by dams not only suppress floods but also provide water for activities such as irrigation, human consumption, industrial use, aqua ...
. On 20 October, the Azerbaijani forces took control of
Zangilan Zangilan (, ; ) is a city in Azerbaijan and the administrative centre of the Zangilan District. It is situated along the Voghji (Okhchuchay) river. Etymology According to the Armenian historian Hovhannes Gharagyozian, the town's historical ...
, and on 22 October, Ağbənd, thus taking full control over the
Azerbaijan–Iran border The Azerbaijan–Iran border (, ) is 689 km (428 mi) in length and consists of two non-contiguous sections separated by the 44-km long Armenia–Iran border. Description Western (Nakchivan) section The border starts in the north-west at t ...
.


Background

The disputed region of
Nagorno-Karabakh Nagorno-Karabakh (, ; ) is a region in Azerbaijan, covering the southeastern stretch of the Lesser Caucasus mountain range. Part of the greater region of Karabakh, it spans the area between Lower Karabakh and Syunik Province, Syunik. Its ter ...
, with its ethnic Armenian majority, was a ''
de jure In law and government, ''de jure'' (; ; ) describes practices that are officially recognized by laws or other formal norms, regardless of whether the practice exists in reality. The phrase is often used in contrast with '' de facto'' ('from fa ...
'' part of Azerbaijan, but was '' de facto'' held almost entirely by the self-proclaimed
Republic of Artsakh Artsakh ( ), officially the Republic of Artsakh or the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh ( ), was a breakaway state in the South Caucasus whose territory was internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan. Between 1991 and 2023, Artsakh cont ...
, which is supported by Armenia. On 20 February 1988, the Soviet of the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast passed a resolution requesting transfer of the oblast from the Azerbaijan SSR to the Armenia SSR; Azerbaijan rejected the request several times. Following the revoking of Nagorno-Karabakh's autonomous status, a referendum was held on 10 December 1991 in the region; it was boycotted by the Azerbaijani population which then constituted around 22.8%: 99.8% voted in favor. Both Armenia and Azerbaijan then became fully independent of the Soviet Union in 1991. The
First Nagorno-Karabakh War The First Nagorno-Karabakh War was an ethnic conflict, ethnic and territorial conflict that took place from February 1988 to May 1994, in the enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh in southwestern Azerbaijan, between the majority ethnic Armenians of Nag ...
resulted in the displacement of 750,000 Azerbaijanis overall, with roughly 600,000 of them being from Nagorno-Karabakh and the seven surrounding districts, which were majority-Azeri, essentially cleansing all of the occupied territories from its Azerbaijani inhabitants. Similarly, 353,000 Armenians had to flee from Azerbaijan. The war ended with a ceasefire in 1994, with the Republic of Artsakh controlling most of the Nagorno-Karabakh region, as well as the surrounding districts of
Agdam Aghdam () is a town and the nominal capital of the Aghdam District of Azerbaijan. Founded in the 18th century, it was granted city status in 1828 and grew considerably during the Soviet period. Aghdam lies from Stepanakert at the eastern foot ...
,
Jabrayil Jabrayil (, ) is a ghost city in Azerbaijan, nominally the administrative capital of Azerbaijan's Jabrayil District. A town with Azerbaijani majority and Armenians, Armenian plurality at various times during the Russian Empire, Russian imperial ...
, Fuzuli,
Kalbajar Kalbajar ( ; ) is a city and the capital of the Kalbajar District of Azerbaijan. Located in the Tartar Valley, it is away from the country's capital city Baku. Before the First Nagorno-Karabakh War, the city had a population of 7,246 people. I ...
,
Qubadli Qubadli (, ) is a city in Azerbaijan and the administrative centre of the Qubadli District. It is situated along the Vorotan (Bargushad) river. History Qubadli was part of the Zangezur uezd of the Elizavetpol Governorate during the Russian E ...
,
Lachin Lachin (, , ; ) is a town in Azerbaijan and the administrative centre of the Lachin District. It was located within the strategic Lachin corridor, which used to link the Nagorno-Karabakh region with Armenia. The town was under control of Armen ...
and
Zangilan Zangilan (, ; ) is a city in Azerbaijan and the administrative centre of the Zangilan District. It is situated along the Voghji (Okhchuchay) river. Etymology According to the Armenian historian Hovhannes Gharagyozian, the town's historical ...
of Azerbaijan. For three decades, multiple violations of the ceasefire had occurred, the most serious incidents prior to the
Second Nagorno-Karabakh War The Second Nagorno-Karabakh War was an armed conflict in 2020 that took place in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh and the Armenian-occupied territories surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh, surrounding occupied territories. It was a major esca ...
being a four-day escalation in 2016. Long-standing international mediation attempts to create a peace process were initiated by the
OSCE Minsk Group The OSCE Minsk Group was created in 1992 by the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE), now Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), to encourage a peaceful, negotiated resolution to the conflict between ...
in 1994, with the interrupted
Madrid Principles The Madrid Principles were proposed peace settlements of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, proposed by the OSCE Minsk Group. The OSCE Minsk Group was the only internationally agreed body to mediate the negotiations for the peaceful resolution of the ...
being the most recent iteration. While it is unclear how the present inhabitants of the area want to administer the territory, surveys indicate that they do not want to be part of Azerbaijan. In August 2019, in an unprecedented declaration in favour of unification, the Armenian Prime Minister,
Nikol Pashinyan Nikol Vovayi Pashinyan (born 1 June 1975) is an Armenian politician who is serving as the 16th and current Prime Minister of Armenia, prime minister of Armenia since 8 May 2018. A journalist by profession, Pashinyan founded his own newspaper in ...
, visited Nagorno-Karabakh, stating, "Artsakh is Armenia, full stop". Skirmishes occurred on the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan in July 2020. Thousands of Azerbaijanis demonstrated for war against Armenia in response, with Turkey propagandising in support of Azerbaijan.


The campaign

On 27 September the Azerbaijani MoD stated it had taken Qaraxanbəyli, Qərvənd, Kənd Horadiz and
Yuxarı Əbdürrəhmanlı Yuxarı Əbdürrəhmanlı () is a village in Fuzuli District of Azerbaijan. It is currently uninhabited. The village had been occupied by Armenian forces in the First Nagorno-Karabakh war The First Nagorno-Karabakh War was an ethnic conflic ...
in Fuzuli, Böyük Mərcanlı and Nüzgər in
Jabrayil Jabrayil (, ) is a ghost city in Azerbaijan, nominally the administrative capital of Azerbaijan's Jabrayil District. A town with Azerbaijani majority and Armenians, Armenian plurality at various times during the Russian Empire, Russian imperial ...
. Next day, the Armenian MoD stated that the Azerbaijani forces had launched a new major offensive operation in the Aras Valley. The following day, the Azerbaijani MoD then stated that its offensive on Fuzuli City continued from the early morning. On 30 September, the Azerbaijani MoD stated that Azerbaijani forces had shelled the 4th Armenian Battalion, stationed in Fuzuli District. Next day, the Azerbaijani MoD stated that Jabrayil and Fuzuli Districts were being rocketed from
Goris Goris ( ) is a town and the centre of the Goris Municipality in the Syunik Province in southern Armenia. Located in the valley of the Goris (or Vararak) River, it is 254 kilometres from the Armenian capital Yerevan and 67 kilometres from the provi ...
, in Armenia. On 3 October, tense clashes took place along the Aras Valley. In the evening, President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, stated that the Azerbaijani forces had taken control of Mehdili, Çaxırlı,
Aşağı Maralyan Aşağı Maralyan (also, Ashaga Maral’yan, Ashagy-Maral’yan, Maral’yan and Maral’yanskiy) is a village in the Jabrayil Rayon of Azerbaijan. It is currently uninhabited. In October 2022, it was occupied by the Azerbaijani Armed Forces Th ...
, Şəybəy and Quycaq in Jabrayil, and
Aşağı Əbdürrəhmanlı Aşağı Əbdürrəhmanlı (also, Ashaga-Abdurakhmanly and Ashagy Abdurakhmanly) is a village in the Fuzuli District of Azerbaijan. It is currently uninhabited. It was controlled by the Armenian Army from 1993 (following the First Nagorno-Karabak ...
in Fuzuli. The following day, the Azerbaijani MoD stated that Armenian forces were shelling Fuzuli District. In the evening, Azerbaijani President Aliyev stated that the Azerbaijani forces had taken control of the city of
Jabrayil Jabrayil (, ) is a ghost city in Azerbaijan, nominally the administrative capital of Azerbaijan's Jabrayil District. A town with Azerbaijani majority and Armenians, Armenian plurality at various times during the Russian Empire, Russian imperial ...
, as well as Karxulu, Şükürbəyli,
Çərəkən Çərəkən () is a village in Horovlu administrative-territorial unit of Jabrayil district, Azerbaijan, located on a plain, 3 km northeast of the city of Jabrayil. Etymology Village's name is derived from the words "chara" (Azerb. Çər ...
, Daşgəsən,
Horovlu Horovlu (Gorovlu, and Khorovlu) village within the administrative-territorial unit of the same name in the Jabrayil District, Jabrayil district of Azerbaijan, located on a plain, 8 km east of the city of Jabrayil. It was occupied by the Armed Fo ...
, Mahmudlu, Cəfərabad,
Yuxarı Maralyan Yuxarı Maralyan (also, Yukhary-Maral’yan) is a village in Jabrayil Rayon, in the south-west of Azerbaijan Azerbaijan, officially the Republic of Azerbaijan, is a Boundaries between the continents, transcontinental and landlocked countr ...
, and Decal in Jabrayil District. On 5 and 6 October, the Azerbaijani forces launched another offensive in the
Jabrayil District Jabrayil District () 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 Khojavend, Fuzuli, Qubadli, Zangilan, and t ...
. On 7 October, the Azerbaijani MoD stated that the Azerbaijani forces were in control of
Jabrayil District Jabrayil District () 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 Khojavend, Fuzuli, Qubadli, Zangilan, and t ...
. It also released footage apparently showing Azerbaijani forces in Şükürbəyli. Then, the Azerbaijani MoD stated that Armenian forces were shelling villages in Fuzuli and
Jabrayil Jabrayil (, ) is a ghost city in Azerbaijan, nominally the administrative capital of Azerbaijan's Jabrayil District. A town with Azerbaijani majority and Armenians, Armenian plurality at various times during the Russian Empire, Russian imperial ...
Districts, also that the Armenian forces were firing upon villages in Fuzuli District. Just before 04:00 (00:00 GMT) on October 10, Russia reported that both Armenia and Azerbaijan had agreed on a humanitarian ceasefire after 10 hours of talks in Moscow (the Moscow Statement) and announced that both would enter "substantive" talks. Hostilities were formally halted at 12:00 (08:00 GMT), to allow an exchange of prisoners and the recovery of the dead, facilitated by the
International Committee of the Red Cross The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is a humanitarian organization based in Geneva, Switzerland, and is a three-time Nobel Prize laureate. The organization has played an instrumental role in the development of rules of war and ...
(ICRC). But violations of the ceasefire were persistent, leading to the ICRC halting attempts to recover the dead and exchange wounded and prisoners, as well as prompting fears of a humanitarian crisis. Armenia and Azerbaijan accused each other of bombarding civilian settlements prior to the ceasefire, with both sides denying the other's accusations. Each side also accused the other of breaking the ceasefire. Clashes broke out soon afterward, with Azerbaijan moving deeper into the conflict zone. The Azerbaijani president stated that Azerbaijani forces had retaliated for the ballistic missile attacks on Ganja by seizing control of Fuzuli and nearby villages but also called for immediate international intervention. On 14 October Azerbaijan claimed control over Qaradağlı, Xatınbulaq, and Qarakollu in Fuzuli District. The next day, the Azerbaijan MOD stated its forces had seized control of
Arış Arış is a village in the Fuzuli District of Azerbaijan. History The village was captured by Armenian forces during the First Nagorno-Karabakh war and all of its original Azerbaijani inhabitants were driven out. It was administrated as part o ...
in
Fuzuli District Fuzuli District () 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, Jabrayil, and the ...
. Two days later, the Azerbaijani MOD claimed to have downed an Armenian
SU-25 The Sukhoi Su-25 ''Grach'' ( ('' rook''); NATO reporting name: Frogfoot) is a subsonic, single-seat, twin-engine jet aircraft developed in the Soviet Union by Sukhoi. It was designed to provide close air support for Soviet Ground Forces. The ...
, and to have retaken Füzuli and several villages. Armenia denied losing a warplane. On 18 October, the Azerbaijani MoD claimed to have downed an Armenian Su-25 warplane, which it stated had been attacking towards
Jabrayil Jabrayil (, ) is a ghost city in Azerbaijan, nominally the administrative capital of Azerbaijan's Jabrayil District. A town with Azerbaijani majority and Armenians, Armenian plurality at various times during the Russian Empire, Russian imperial ...
; Armenia issued a denial. At approximately 19:00, Azerbaijani forces released a footage from Fuzuli. The Azerbaijani president stated that the Azerbaijani forces had captured the
Khodaafarin Bridges Khudafarin Bridges or Khoda Afarin Bridges (, , ), are two arch bridges located at the border of Azerbaijan and Iran connecting the northern and southern banks of the Aras River. History Communication between the Caucasus and the historical Ir ...
and
Dam A dam is a barrier that stops or restricts the flow of surface water or underground streams. Reservoirs created by dams not only suppress floods but also provide water for activities such as irrigation, human consumption, industrial use, aqua ...
. On 20 October, clashes intensified near
Zəngilan Zangilan (, ; ) is a city in Azerbaijan and the administrative centre of the Zangilan District. It is situated along the Voghji (river), Voghji (Okhchuchay) river. Etymology According to the Armenian historian Hovhannes Gharagyozian, the to ...
, involving Azerbaijani offensives. The Azerbaijani President stated that Azerbaijani forces had claimed
Zəngilan Zangilan (, ; ) is a city in Azerbaijan and the administrative centre of the Zangilan District. It is situated along the Voghji (river), Voghji (Okhchuchay) river. Etymology According to the Armenian historian Hovhannes Gharagyozian, the to ...
, the administrative center of
Zangilan District Zangilan District () 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 Qubadli, Jabrayil, the Syunik Province of Arme ...
, and Havalı, Zərnəli,
Məmmədbəyli Mammadbeyli () is a village in the Zangilan District of Azerbaijan. The village is situated on the bank of Hakari river. Toponym The village was originally called Terekeme. In the 19th century it belonged to Mammadbay Zangilani, and therefore ...
, Həkəri, Şarifan, and Muğanlı in Zangilan District. Soon after, the Azerbaijani MoD formally released footage showing Zəngilan, and "''
BBC Russian Service BBC News Russian () – formerly BBC Russian Service () – is part of the BBC World Service's foreign language output, one of nearly 40 languages it provides. History The BBC's first Russian-language broadcast was a translation of a speech ...
''" confirmed Azerbaijan's statements. In turn, the Armenian MoD stated that Azerbaijani forces were retreating along the
Aras River The Aras is a transboundary river in the Caucasus. It rises in eastern Turkey and flows along the borders between Turkey and Armenia, between Turkey and the Nakhchivan exclave of Azerbaijan, between Iran and both Azerbaijan and Armenia, and, fin ...
; Azerbaijan issued a denial. The next day, clashes further intensified, specifically in
Zangilan Zangilan (, ; ) is a city in Azerbaijan and the administrative centre of the Zangilan District. It is situated along the Voghji (Okhchuchay) river. Etymology According to the Armenian historian Hovhannes Gharagyozian, the town's historical ...
. The President of Azerbaijan,
Ilham Aliyev Ilham Heydar Oghlu Aliyev (born 24 December 1961) is an Azerbaijani politician who has been the fourth president of Azerbaijan since 2003. He is also the leader of the New Azerbaijan Party since 2005. The son and second child of former Aze ...
stated that the Azerbaijani forces had seized control of Mincivan town and villages of
Gecəgözlü Gecəgözlü (also Gedzhagëzlyu and Gedzhagozlu) is a village in Fuzuli District of Azerbaijan Azerbaijan, officially the Republic of Azerbaijan, is a Boundaries between the continents, transcontinental and landlocked country at the boun ...
, Aşağı Seyidəhmədli, and Zərgər in Fuzuli, Bələnd,
Papı Papı (also, Papy) is a village in the Jabrayil Rayon of Azerbaijan Azerbaijan, officially the Republic of Azerbaijan, is a Boundaries between the continents, transcontinental and landlocked country at the boundary of West Asia and Easter ...
, Tulus, Hacılı, and Tinli in
Jabrayil Jabrayil (, ) is a ghost city in Azerbaijan, nominally the administrative capital of Azerbaijan's Jabrayil District. A town with Azerbaijani majority and Armenians, Armenian plurality at various times during the Russian Empire, Russian imperial ...
, and Xurama, Xumarlı, Sarıl, Babaylı,
Üçüncü Ağalı Üçüncü Ağalı () is a village in the Zangilan District of Azerbaijan. History The village was located in the Armenian-occupied territories surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh, coming under the control of ethnic Armenian forces during the First Nag ...
, Hacallı, Qıraq Müşlan, Üdgün, Turabad, İçəri Müşlan, Məlikli, Cahangirbəyli, and Baharlı in Zangilan districts. On 22 October, clashes continued in
Zəngilan Zangilan (, ; ) is a city in Azerbaijan and the administrative centre of the Zangilan District. It is situated along the Voghji (river), Voghji (Okhchuchay) river. Etymology According to the Armenian historian Hovhannes Gharagyozian, the to ...
. At approximately 17:30, the
President of Azerbaijan The president of the Republic of Azerbaijan is the head of state of the Azerbaijan, Republic of Azerbaijan. The Constitution of Azerbaijan, Constitution states that the president is the embodiment of Executive (government), executive power, co ...
stated that the Azerbaijani forces had seized control of
Mollavəli Mollavəli (also, Mollaveli) is a village in Fuzuli District, Azerbaijan Azerbaijan, officially the Republic of Azerbaijan, is a Boundaries between the continents, transcontinental and landlocked country at the boundary of West Asia and E ...
,
Yuxarı Rəfədinli Yuxarı Rəfədinli () is a village in Fuzuli District, Azerbaijan Azerbaijan, officially the Republic of Azerbaijan, is a Boundaries between the continents, transcontinental and landlocked country at the boundary of West Asia and Eastern ...
, and Aşağı Rəfədinli in Fuzuli, and Sirik, Şıxlar, Məstalıbəyli, and Dərzili in
Jabrayil Jabrayil (, ) is a ghost city in Azerbaijan, nominally the administrative capital of Azerbaijan's Jabrayil District. A town with Azerbaijani majority and Armenians, Armenian plurality at various times during the Russian Empire, Russian imperial ...
districts. In addition, he stated that Azerbaijani forces had claimed Kolluqışlaq,
Malatkeşin Malatkeşin () is a village located in the administrative-territorial district of the city of Zangilan, Zangilan district of Azerbaijan. The village is situated on the bank of Okhchuchay River. History According to the “Code of statistical d ...
, Kənd Zəngilan,
Genlik Genlik ()is a village located in the administrative-territorial district of the city of Zangilan in the Zangilan district of Azerbaijan Azerbaijan, officially the Republic of Azerbaijan, is a Boundaries between the continents, transcontin ...
, Vəliqulubəyli,
Qaradərə Qaradərə (also, Karadera and Karadere) is a village in the Zangilan Rayon of Azerbaijan Azerbaijan, officially the Republic of Azerbaijan, is a Boundaries between the continents, transcontinental and landlocked country at the boundary o ...
, Çöpədərə,
Tatar Tatar may refer to: Peoples * Tatars, an umbrella term for different Turkic ethnic groups bearing the name "Tatar" * Volga Tatars, a people from the Volga-Ural region of western Russia * Crimean Tatars, a people from the Crimea peninsula by the B ...
, Tiri, Əmirxanlı, Qarqulu, Bartaz, Dəlləkli, and Ağbənd in
Zangilan District Zangilan District () 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 Qubadli, Jabrayil, the Syunik Province of Arme ...
, releasing confirmary footage. According to Aliyev, with this, Azerbaijani forces had secured control over the
Azerbaijan–Iran border The Azerbaijan–Iran border (, ) is 689 km (428 mi) in length and consists of two non-contiguous sections separated by the 44-km long Armenia–Iran border. Description Western (Nakchivan) section The border starts in the north-west at t ...
. Armenia issued a denial and stated that heavy clashes took place near Qacar in Fuzuli. The following day, clashes continued in
Zəngilan Zangilan (, ; ) is a city in Azerbaijan and the administrative centre of the Zangilan District. It is situated along the Voghji (river), Voghji (Okhchuchay) river. Etymology According to the Armenian historian Hovhannes Gharagyozian, the to ...
. In the evening, the Azerbaijani president stated that Azerbaijani forces had claimed Dağ Tumas, Nüsüs, Xələfli, Minbaşılı, and Veysəlli in
Jabrayil Jabrayil (, ) is a ghost city in Azerbaijan, nominally the administrative capital of Azerbaijan's Jabrayil District. A town with Azerbaijani majority and Armenians, Armenian plurality at various times during the Russian Empire, Russian imperial ...
, Vənədli and Mirzəhəsənli in
Zangilan District Zangilan District () 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 Qubadli, Jabrayil, the Syunik Province of Arme ...
. The Azerbaijani MoD also released confirmary footage from one the villages claimed. The next day, the Azerbaijani MoD stated that the Armenian forces attempted to attack the Azerbaijani positions in
Zangilan Zangilan (, ; ) is a city in Azerbaijan and the administrative centre of the Zangilan District. It is situated along the Voghji (Okhchuchay) river. Etymology According to the Armenian historian Hovhannes Gharagyozian, the town's historical ...
from
Syunik Province Syunik (, ) is the southernmost province of Armenia. It is bordered by the Vayots Dzor Province to the north, Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic exclave to the west, Azerbaijan to the east, and Iran to the south. Its capital and larg ...
of Armenia. On 25 October, the Azerbaijani MoD released footage from
Zangilan Zangilan (, ; ) is a city in Azerbaijan and the administrative centre of the Zangilan District. It is situated along the Voghji (Okhchuchay) river. Etymology According to the Armenian historian Hovhannes Gharagyozian, the town's historical ...
and
Jabrayil Jabrayil (, ) is a ghost city in Azerbaijan, nominally the administrative capital of Azerbaijan's Jabrayil District. A town with Azerbaijani majority and Armenians, Armenian plurality at various times during the Russian Empire, Russian imperial ...
districts, in the very southwest of the theater of operations, near the
Aras River The Aras is a transboundary river in the Caucasus. It rises in eastern Turkey and flows along the borders between Turkey and Armenia, between Turkey and the Nakhchivan exclave of Azerbaijan, between Iran and both Azerbaijan and Armenia, and, fin ...
and the Iranian border. The following day, the
President of Azerbaijan The president of the Republic of Azerbaijan is the head of state of the Azerbaijan, Republic of Azerbaijan. The Constitution of Azerbaijan, Constitution states that the president is the embodiment of Executive (government), executive power, co ...
,
Ilham Aliyev Ilham Heydar Oghlu Aliyev (born 24 December 1961) is an Azerbaijani politician who has been the fourth president of Azerbaijan since 2003. He is also the leader of the New Azerbaijan Party since 2005. The son and second child of former Aze ...
, stated that the Azerbaijani forces had seized control of Qovşudlu, Sofulu, Dağ Maşanlı, Kürdlər, Hovuslu, and Çələbilər in
Jabrayil District Jabrayil District () 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 Khojavend, Fuzuli, Qubadli, Zangilan, and t ...
, Birinci Alıbəyli, İkinci Alıbəyli, Rəbənd, and Yenikənd in
Zangilan District Zangilan District () 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 Qubadli, Jabrayil, the Syunik Province of Arme ...
, along the Hakari Valley. The Armenian authorities confirmed that the Azerbaijani forces had launched an offensive in the region. On 28 October,
President of Azerbaijan The president of the Republic of Azerbaijan is the head of state of the Azerbaijan, Republic of Azerbaijan. The Constitution of Azerbaijan, Constitution states that the president is the embodiment of Executive (government), executive power, co ...
,
Ilham Aliyev Ilham Heydar Oghlu Aliyev (born 24 December 1961) is an Azerbaijani politician who has been the fourth president of Azerbaijan since 2003. He is also the leader of the New Azerbaijan Party since 2005. The son and second child of former Aze ...
, stated that the Azerbaijani forces had seized control of Birinci Ağalı, İkinci Ağalı,
Üçüncü Ağalı Üçüncü Ağalı () is a village in the Zangilan District of Azerbaijan. History The village was located in the Armenian-occupied territories surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh, coming under the control of ethnic Armenian forces during the First Nag ...
, Zərnəli in
Zangilan Zangilan (, ; ) is a city in Azerbaijan and the administrative centre of the Zangilan District. It is situated along the Voghji (Okhchuchay) river. Etymology According to the Armenian historian Hovhannes Gharagyozian, the town's historical ...
, Mandılı in Fuzuli, Qazanzəmi, Xanağabulaq, Çüllü, Quşçular, and Qaraağac in
Jabrayil Jabrayil (, ) is a ghost city in Azerbaijan, nominally the administrative capital of Azerbaijan's Jabrayil District. A town with Azerbaijani majority and Armenians, Armenian plurality at various times during the Russian Empire, Russian imperial ...
. On 2 November, President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev stated that the Azerbaijani forces had seized control of Çaprand, Hacı İsaqlı, and Qoşabulaq in
Jabrayil District Jabrayil District () 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 Khojavend, Fuzuli, Qubadli, Zangilan, and t ...
, as well as Dərə Gilətağ, and Böyük Gilətağ in
Zangilan District Zangilan District () 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 Qubadli, Jabrayil, the Syunik Province of Arme ...
. Next day, the Azerbaijani MoD stated that Füzuli was being rocketed with
BM-30 Smerch The BM-30 ''Smerch'' (, 'whirlwind'), 9K58 Smerch or 9A52-2 Smerch-M is a heavy Self-propelled artillery, self-propelled 300 mm multiple rocket launcher designed in the Soviet Union to fire a full load of 12 solid-fuelled projectiles. The ...
es from the territory of Armenia; Armenia issued a denial.


Casualties


Military casualties

As of 20 October, the Azerbaijani authorities claimed that at least 40 Armenian servicemen were killed. Azerbaijan doesn't disclose its own military casualties.


Equipment losses

As of 20 October, the Azerbaijani authorities have stated that the Azerbaijani forces have destroyed at least 7 tanks, 6 other vehicles, 4
BM-21 Grad The BM-21 "Grad" () is a self-propelled 122 mm multiple rocket launcher designed in the Soviet Union. The system and the M-21OF rocket were first developed in the early 1960s, and saw their first combat use in March 1969 during the Sino-S ...
systems, 1 D-30 howitzers, 3 Tor-M2 km missile systems, downed 2
UAVs An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) or unmanned aircraft system (UAS), commonly known as a drone, is an aircraft with no human pilot, crew, or passengers onboard, but rather is controlled remotely or is autonomous.De Gruyter Handbook of Drone ...
and 1
Su-25 The Sukhoi Su-25 ''Grach'' ( ('' rook''); NATO reporting name: Frogfoot) is a subsonic, single-seat, twin-engine jet aircraft developed in the Soviet Union by Sukhoi. It was designed to provide close air support for Soviet Ground Forces. The ...
, and captured many tanks and IFVs.


Civilian casualties

As of 20 October, the Azerbaijani authorities have reported that 1 Azerbaijani civilian was killed and 6 more were injured in Fuzuli.


Notes


References

{{Nagorno-Karabakh conflict Battles of the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War 2020 military operations Battles involving Armenia Battles involving Azerbaijan Operations involving Azerbaijani special forces September 2020 in Asia September 2020 in Europe October 2020 in Asia October 2020 in Europe