08/06/2022 Nagorno-Karabakh (International Christian Concern) – Beginning on August 1, tensions flared again between Azerbaijan and the historically Christian nation of Armenia over the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh (Armenian: Artsakh), nearly two years since the war that left the region struggling. As a result, Azerbaijan killed two soldiers from the de-facto Artsakh Republic forces and injured 14 others in a drone operation titled “Revenge”.

On August 1, Azerbaijani Armed Forces attempted to cross the borders in several places. The advances were stopped with no casualties, though the situation remained tense. On August 3, Azerbaijani forces targeted the Armenian and Artsakh forces with mortars, grenade launchers and UAVs. Azerbaijan claimed Armenia fails to fulfill the ceasefire obligations, while the Russian Defense Ministry, the peacekeepers following the 2020 war, stated that Azerbaijan committed three ceasefire violations within a 24-hour period on Tuesday.

Not long after the deadly attack, Armenian residents of Artsakh’s Aghavno and Berdzor villages were ordered to leave their homes by August 25. Residents continue to protest and remain adamant that they will not leave. The two villages are part of the Lachin corridor, the sole land route connecting Armenia and Artsakh, and were among the only towns in the disputed territory not forcibly displaced during the 2020 war. The Lachin corridor was set to be handed over to Azerbaijan in November 2023 once Armenia was able to build a new road and is patrolled by Russian peacekeepers in the meantime.