South Caucasus rivals Armenia and Azerbaijan have accused each other of opening fire around the contested Nagorno-Karabkah region in a clash that killed a total of seven soldiers.
The two neighbours – both formerly part of the Soviet Union – have fought repeatedly over the last 35 years for control of Nagorno-Karabakh, which is internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan but home to a mainly ethnic Armenian population.
The Azeri defence ministry said three troops had died in a clash close to the contested Lachin Corridor, a key road into Nagorno-Karabakh from Armenia that crosses through Azeri territory.
The Armenian defence ministry said four of its soldiers had died and another six had been wounded.
Armenia had earlier accused Azerbaijan of opening fire on Armenian troops performing engineering work near the village of Tegh in Armenia's southern Syunik province.
It said its forces had taken "countermeasures," without providing details.
Tegh is the last village on the Lachin Corridor in Armenia before it enters Azeri territory.
Azerbaijan said its troops came under "intense fire" from Armenian troops stationed in Syunik province.
Russia dispatched a thousands-strong peacekeeping contingent to the region in 2020 as part of a deal to end weeks of fighting that killed thousands and resulted in Azerbaijan making significant territorial gains.
Russia is an ally of Armenia through a mutual self-defence pact but also strives for good relations with Azerbaijan.
The latest stand-off between the two bitter rivals has come over control of the Lachin Corridor – the only road route linking Armenia to Nagorno-Karabakh.
Azerbaijanis claiming to be environmental protesters have been blocking the route since the end of last year, resulting in what Armenia has called a humanitarian crisis as food and medicine have been unable to be transported into the region.
Azerbaijan denies those claims, saying essential supplies can get into the territory and has defended the protesters as rallying against legitimate environmental concerns.
Armenia has called them government-backed agitators.
Australian Associated Press
https://www.goulburnpost.com.au/story/8155496/soldiers-killed-in-armenia-azerbaijan-firefight/