(Dan Tri) – Azerbaijan confirmed that its army today entered Aghdam district, the first area in Nagorno-Karabakh that Baku took over from Armenia, after 6 weeks of bloody fighting.
Azerbaijani tanks rushed in to take over the first district from Armenia
Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Defense said on November 20 that the country’s forces were deployed today to Aghdam in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict area to take over this district from Armenia.
Armenia agreed to return Aghdam to Azerbaijan in an armistice agreement signed last week brokered by Russia to end a bloody six-week fighting between the two former Soviet nations.
“The Azerbaijani Army entered the Aghdam area on November 20,” a statement from the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense read.
Aghdam is one of three districts that Armenia will have to return to Azerbaijan in the next 2 weeks.
In addition, during recent fighting, Azerbaijan also regained control of part of the core Nagorno-Karabakh region, including Shusha – a strategic region located close to the capital of Nagorno-Karabakh.
Armenian forces prepare to move out of Aghdam on November 19 (Photo: AFP)
Armenian forces, Armenian-backed separatist groups and people of Armenian descent living in the area packed their bags and left a few days before the November 20 deadline.
Most of the town of Aghdam was destroyed by Armenians before leaving by dismantling and burning houses.
For nearly 30 years, Azerbaijan has continuously criticized the presence of Armenian forces and pro-Armenian armed groups in the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven neighboring regions – internationally recognized territories of Azerbaijan.
The fighting that broke out on September 27 ended with the advantage in favor of Azerbaijan.
While the people of Azerbaijan took to the streets to celebrate, in Armenia, violent protests broke out in Yerevan and the opposition called on Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian to resign.
People of Armenian origin moved furniture and burned their houses before leaving (Photo: AFP)
The purple area is territory that Azerbaijan has controlled or regained in fighting, the crossed-out area is territory that Azerbaijan will receive back from Armenia (Graphic: AFP)