Heavy fighting continues in Nagorno-Karabakh
Anh Tu, VOV’s reporter in Russia -
(VOVWORLD) - Despite international call to end hostilities, heavy fighting continued on Saturday between Armenia and Azerbaijan in their conflict over the separatist territory of Nagorno-Karabakh after Azerbaijan launched a large-scale attack on the area.
 Azerbaijani soldiers and the Armenian forces clash at the conflicted region of Nagorno-Karabakh. (Photo: AFP/VNA) |
Azerbaijan declared its determination to take back its lost territory 30 years ago while Armenia insisted that it would not step back.
Shushan Stepanyan, a spokesperson for Armenia's Defence Ministry, confirmed that Armenian-backed forces repelled a major offensive by Azerbaijan and conducted a counterattack making three Azerbaijani warplanes to be shot down.
Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry reported a significant number of the Armenian army personnel together with the weapons and military equipment destroyed during the fighting.
In related news, Iran warned on Saturday against both Armenian and Azerbaijan fighting over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region after mortar fire hit Iranian villages along the border.
Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said in a statement that any intrusion upon Iran’s territory by either side of the conflict is intolerable and Iran seriously warn all sides to take the necessary precautions in this regard.
He called for an end to the fighting between the two countries and said Iran stood ready to facilitate talks.
Anh Tu, VOV’s reporter in Russia