War fears increase as Azerbaijan targets Armenian positions in Nagorno-Karabakh

An ethnic Armenian soldier stands guard next to Nagorno-Karabakh’s flag atop of the hill near Charektar in the separatist region of Nagorno-Karabakh in 2020 (Sergei Grits/AP)

Azerbaijan has launched what it has called an “anti-terrorist operation” targeting Armenian military positions in the Nagorno-Karabakh region – as officials in the area report heavy artillery firing around its capital.

The Azerbaijani defence ministry announced the start of the operation hours after four soldiers and two civilians died in landmine explosions in the Nagorno-Karabakh region.