Azerbaijani Aggression Against Artsakh: Feedback From the Middle East

5 m.   |  2020-09-28

A rab and Israeli media references to Azerbaijani large-scale actions against Artsakh are limited in general and there are few expert assessments and analyses. We can assess the current news as neutral, where the conflicting parties’ approaches are presented.

One of the articles published in Al Jazeera makes a historical reference to the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute: “After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh opposed coexistence under the direct rule of the government of Azerbaijan” [1]. In another article, at least as a sign of Islamic solidarity, the Artsakh side is presented as “separatism” [2]. Based on the article, the conflicting sides blame each other for targeting civilian infrastructures and settlements. It also refers to the issue of positional changes between the sides, according to which the Armenian side suffered positional losses. “Azerbaijan claimed it captured a strategic mountain in the region that helps control transport communications between Armenia and Artsakh” [3]. It should be noted, however, the Armenian side denied this news.

The article also quotes the RA Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s Twitter post: “We stay strong next to our army to protect our motherland from Azeri invasion” [4].

The publication of the authoritative Syrian magazine SOHR mentions, that based on the reliable data, Turkey-backed Syrian mercenaries arrived in Azerbaijan: “The current group had arrived in Turkey from Syria’s Turkish-controlled Afrin earlier in the week. There are more fighters waiting to be deployed in the near future” [5].

The source particularly mentions a recording posted on the Twitter page of American journalist Lindsey Snell, according to which, a week before the Azerbaijani attacks, about 1000 mercenaries of the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army terrorist group (TFSA) were to be sent to Azerbaijan, “Recording claims 1000 TFSA will be sent to Azerbaijan between the 27th and 30th. I've also heard from multiple sources that some are already there” [6].

Source: https://twitter.com/LindseySnell/status

Based on the other Twitter post by Lindsey Snell, on September 22, members of the Hamza division of the Syrian National Army terrorist group arrived in Baku from Ankara.

Source: https://twitter.com/LindseySnell/status

On September 27, Erkin Öncan, journalist of Sputnik Turkey, posted a video on his Twitter page, showing how the mercenaries of the Syrian National Army are being transported to Azerbaijan.

Source: https://twitter.com/erknoncn/status

Another report by SOHR states that on September 24, based on the reliable sources, the government of Turkey transferred about 300 fighters of the Syrian National Army, who are mostly of Sultan Murad և Al-Amshat factions. According to the source, the mercenaries receive salaries of 1500-2000 USD [7].

The Israeli Jerusalem post also reports on the transfer of mercenaries from Turkey to Azerbaijan: “there have been rumors about Turkish military planes flying to Azerbaijan and about transportation of Syrian militants to fight against Armenia in recent weeks. Turkish military transportation flights to Azerbaijan for the last 48 hours show that Turkey wants to play a bigger role” [8].

The publication also refers to the restriction of Internet access in Azerbaijan: “Internet service was restricted in Azerbaijan in an apparent effort to prevent the spread of fake news or news that might show losses at the front” [9].

On September 2, the RA MFA spokesperson Anna Naghdalyan, in response to a question about mercenaries, noted: “this information is really worrying, and we are verifying its authenticity. There is such a danger, especially taking into account Azerbaijani experience in involving religious extremists, as well as Turkey’s experience in supplying terrorists to other regions” [10].

On September 27, the Armenian Unified Information Center wrote on its Facebook page, “About 4000 militants from Syria are taking part in the military actions unleashed by Azerbaijan. According to verified information, there are 81 victims among those militants [11].

[1] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/9/27

[2] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/9/28

[3] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/9/28

[4] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/9/28

[5] https://www.syriahr.com/en/185859/

[6] https://twitter.com/LindseySnell/status/1308

[7] https://www.syriahr.com/en/185821/

[8] https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/armenia

[9] https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/armenia

[10] https://www.mfa.am/hy/press-conference/

[11] https://www.facebook.com/ArmenianUnified

Armenia Azerbaijan NKR