Azer-Arme, Risk of Full-Scale War Rises... "Rocket Attack on Area Near Oil Pipeline"

Azerbaijan's Second City Ganja Hit by Rocket Attack
Both Sides Disagree on Attackers and Targets
International Community Calls for Immediate Ceasefire Amid Disputes

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] The combat zone between Azerbaijan and Armenia is expanding, raising concerns of a full-scale war. Casualties on both sides are also increasing.

Nagorno-Karabakh region burning due to an attack by Azerbaijani forces [Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

According to foreign media reports on the 4th (local time), Ganja, the second largest city in Azerbaijan, was hit by a rocket attack. Although Azerbaijan and Armenia have been engaged in clashes for several days, the conflict area had been limited to the Nagorno-Karabakh region, but the combat zone has now expanded.

Azerbaijan reported that several rockets fell in civilian residential areas of Ganja, resulting in one death and 30 injuries. Ganja is also adjacent to the oil and natural gas pipelines connecting Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, and Turkey.

The claims from both sides regarding this attack are completely different. Nagorno-Karabakh, which is under Armenian influence but claims itself as a separate republic, asserted that they carried out the attack on Ganja. They claimed that in self-defense against Azerbaijani attacks on the Nagorno-Karabakh area, they targeted a military airport located in Ganja. Meanwhile, the Armenian military denied involvement in this attack and refuted related allegations.

On the other hand, Azerbaijan argued that the attacked site was not a military airport, and the rockets were launched from Armenian territory, not Nagorno-Karabakh. Azerbaijan claimed that the attack on Ganja was a provocation by Armenia aimed at expanding the combat zone beyond Nagorno-Karabakh.

The appearance of Nagorno-Karabakh after being shelled [Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

Additionally, both sides have accused each other of using cluster munitions, which have been criticized as inhumane weapons.

Summarizing the casualties reported by both sides over eight days of fighting, at least 240 people have already lost their lives. However, the number is expected to rise when civilian casualties are included.

Regarding the immediate ceasefire demanded by the Minsk Group, including the United States, Russia, and France, the positions of both sides diverged. Armenia expressed willingness to negotiate, but Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev insisted that for dialogue to take place, Armenian forces must withdraw from the Nagorno-Karabakh area.

President Aliyev stated, "Nagorno-Karabakh is Azerbaijani territory, and we will definitely reclaim this region." He added, "If Armenia withdraws its troops, the fighting will stop. This must be implemented through actions, not words."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.