The Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Armenia officially confirms the information on active offensive operations taken by the opponent along the entire line of contact of Karabakh-Azerbaijani armed forces during the night of April 1-2, 2016. During the actions the opponent has attempted to infiltrate the defense of the Defense Army of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and occupy military positions, through the use of tanks, artillery, and air force.

At this moment, the opponent has been forced to retreat, with several casualties, along the entire line of contact as a result of active actions by the Defense Army of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. Hostilities continue.

The Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Armenia strictly condemns the unprecedented aggressive and irresponsible decision by Azerbaijani authorities to start military actions and officially announces that the continuation thereof may have unpredictable consequences for the Azerbaijani side.

Azerbaijani authorities bear the entire responsibility for the unprecedented tension along the line of contact of Karabakh-Azerbaijani armed forces.

The Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Armenia calls the attention of the international community and especially the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group to the present situation and anticipates immediate targeted intervention to keep the situation under control and avoid large-scale military actions.

Translated from Armenian by Stepan Khzrtian

Source: ՀՀ պաշտպանության նախարարության պաշտոնական հայտարարությունը