Armenian cross-border attacks hit civilian houses in Azerbaijan


Cross-border firing from Armenian forces hit civilian housing units in Azerbaijan, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said on Saturday.

The shelling started Friday night and continued to hit the districts of Tovuz, Tartar and Aghdam until Saturday morning, according to a statement.

No casualties were reported but some buildings were damaged.

The attack came as Azerbaijan celebrates the 100th anniversary of the liberation of Baku. Armenia often conducts such provocative attacks on Azerbaijani national and religious holidays, the statement added.

On Sept. 15, 1918, Baku was liberated by the Caucasian Islamic Army, comprised of Azerbaijani and Turkish soldiers. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan also arrived in Azerbaijan on Saturday to attend ceremonies to mark the liberation of Baku.

The Azeri army responded with retaliatory fire, the ministry said.

Azerbaijan and Armenia remain in dispute over the occupied Karabakh region. Karabakh broke away from Azerbaijan in 1991 with Armenian military support, and a peace process has yet to be implemented.