Parts of this article (those related to Casualties) need to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(November 2020)
First phase: 27 September 2020 (2020-09-27) – 22 October 2020 (2020-10-22) (3 weeks and 4 days) Second phase: 22 October 2020 (2020-10-22) – 10 November 2020 (2020-11-10) (2 weeks and 5 days)
The operations started on 27 September, with Azerbaijani advancements in Jabrayil and Fuzuli districts, with the initial objective to seize control of Jabrayil and Füzuli.[23] On 9 October, both sides agreed to a temporary humanitarian ceasefire. After the declared ceasefire, the President of Artsakh admitted Azerbaijan had been able to achieve some success, moving the front deep into Artsakh territory;[24] the Armenian Prime Minister announced that Armenian forces had conducted a "partial retreat".[25]
However, the ceasefire quickly broke down and the Azerbaijani advance continued. Within days Azerbaijan announced the capture of dozens of villages.[26] The Azerbaijani forces, advancing more along the Aras River, captured the Khodaafarin Bridges and the nearby dam.[27] On 20 October, the Azerbaijani forces took control of Zangilan,[28] and on 22 October, Ağbənd, thus taking full control over the Azerbaijan–Iran border.[29]
The disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh, with its ethnic Armenian majority,[30][31][32][33] was a de jure part of Azerbaijan, but was de facto held almost entirely by the self-proclaimed Republic of Artsakh, which is supported by Armenia.[34] On 20 February 1988, the Soviet of the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast passed a resolution requesting transfer of the oblast from the Azerbaijan SSR to the Armenia SSR; Azerbaijan rejected the request several times. Following the revoking of Nagorno-Karabakh's autonomous status, a referendum was held on 10 December 1991 in the region; it was boycotted by the Azerbaijani population which then constituted around 22.8%: 99.8% voted in favor. Both Armenia and Azerbaijan then became fully independent of the Soviet Union in 1991.[35]
For three decades, multiple violations of the ceasefire had occurred, the most serious incidents prior to the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War being a four-day escalation in 2016.[39] Long-standing international mediation attempts to create a peace process were initiated by the OSCE Minsk Group in 1994, with the interrupted Madrid Principles being the most recent iteration.[40][41][42] While it is unclear how the present inhabitants of the area want to administer the territory, surveys indicate that they do not want to be part of Azerbaijan. In August 2019, in an unprecedented declaration in favour of unification, the Armenian Prime Minister, Nikol Pashinyan, visited Nagorno-Karabakh, stating, "Artsakh is Armenia, full stop".[37]
On 27 September the Azerbaijani MoD stated it had taken Qaraxanbəyli, Qərvənd, Kənd Horadiz and Yuxarı Əbdürrəhmanlı in Fuzuli, Böyük Mərcanlı and Nüzgər in Jabrayil.[44][45] Next day, the Armenian MoD stated that the Azerbaijani forces had launched a new major offensive operation in the Aras Valley.[46] The following day, the Azerbaijani MoD then stated that its offensive on Fuzuli City continued from the early morning.[47] On 30 September, the Azerbaijani MoD stated that Azerbaijani forces had shelled the 4th Armenian Battalion, stationed in Fuzuli District.[48] Next day, the Azerbaijani MoD stated that Jabrayil and Fuzuli Districts were being rocketed from Goris, in Armenia.[49]
On 3 October, tense clashes took place along the Aras Valley.[50][51] In the evening, President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, stated that the Azerbaijani forces had taken control of Mehdili, Çaxırlı, Aşağı Maralyan, Şəybəy and Quycaq in Jabrayil, and Aşağı Əbdürrəhmanlı in Fuzuli.[52] The following day, the Azerbaijani MoD stated that Armenian forces were shelling Fuzuli District.[53] In the evening, Azerbaijani President Aliyev stated that the Azerbaijani forces had taken control of the city of Jabrayil,[54] as well as Karxulu, Şükürbəyli, Çərəkən, Daşgəsən, Horovlu, Mahmudlu, Cəfərabad, Yuxarı Maralyan, and Decal in Jabrayil District.[55] On 5 and 6 October, the Azerbaijani forces launched another offensive in the Jabrayil District.[56][57][58] On 7 October, the Azerbaijani MoD stated that the Azerbaijani forces were in control of Jabrayil District.[59] It also released footage apparently showing Azerbaijani forces in Şükürbəyli.[60] Then, the Azerbaijani MoD stated that Armenian forces were shelling villages in Fuzuli and Jabrayil Districts,[61] also that the Armenian forces were firing upon villages in Fuzuli District.[62]
Just before 04:00 (00:00 GMT) on October 10, Russia reported that both Armenia and Azerbaijan had agreed on a humanitarian ceasefire after 10 hours of talks in Moscow (the Moscow Statement) and announced that both would enter "substantive" talks.[63][64] Hostilities were formally halted at 12:00 (08:00 GMT), to allow an exchange of prisoners and the recovery of the dead, facilitated by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).[64][65] But violations of the ceasefire were persistent, leading to the ICRC halting attempts to recover the dead and exchange wounded and prisoners,[66] as well as prompting fears of a humanitarian crisis.[67]
Armenia and Azerbaijan accused each other of bombarding civilian settlements prior to the ceasefire, with both sides denying the other's accusations.[68][69] Each side also accused the other of breaking the ceasefire.[69][70] Clashes broke out soon afterward, with Azerbaijan moving deeper into the conflict zone.[71] The Azerbaijani president stated that Azerbaijani forces had retaliated for the ballistic missile attacks on Ganja by seizing control of Fuzuli and nearby villages but also called for immediate international intervention.[72]
On 14 October Azerbaijan claimed control over Qaradağlı, Xatınbulaq, and Qarakollu in Fuzuli District.[73] The next day, the Azerbaijan MOD stated its forces had seized control of Arış in Fuzuli District.[74] Two days later, the Azerbaijani MOD claimed to have downed an Armenian SU-25,[75] and to have retaken Füzuli and several villages.[72] Armenia denied losing a warplane.[76] On 18 October, the Azerbaijani MoD claimed to have downed an Armenian Su-25 warplane, which it stated had been attacking towards Jabrayil; Armenia issued a denial.[77] At approximately 19:00, Azerbaijani forces released a footage from Fuzuli.[78] The Azerbaijani president stated that the Azerbaijani forces had captured the Khodaafarin Bridges and Dam.[27]
As of 20 October, the Azerbaijani authorities claimed that at least 40 Armenian servicemen were killed. Azerbaijan doesn't disclose its own military casualties.[17]
As of 20 October, the Azerbaijani authorities have stated that the Azerbaijani forces have destroyed at least 7 tanks, 6 other vehicles, 4 BM-21 Grad systems, 1 D-30 howitzers, 3 Tor-M2 km missile systems, downed 2 UAVs and 1 Su-25, and captured many tanks and IFVs.[17]
^ ab"Release of the Press Service of the President". Azerbaijan State News Agency. 19 October 2020. Retrieved 20 October 2020. Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Azerbaijan, President Ilham Aliyev congratulated Chief of the State Border Service (SBS), Colonel General Elchin Guliyev on raising the Azerbaijani flag over the Khudafarin bridge, liberating several residential settlements with the participation of the SBS, and instructed to convey his congratulations to all personnel. Colonel General Elchin Guliyev reported that the State Border Service personnel will continue to decently fulfill all the tasks set by the Commander-in-Chief.
^Kucera, Joshua (29 September 2020). "As fighting rages, what is Azerbaijan's goal?". EurasiaNet. Archived from the original on 4 October 2020. Retrieved 29 September 2020. The Azerbaijani offensive against Armenian forces is its most ambitious since the war between the two sides formally ended in 1994.
^Yamskov, A. N. (1991). Ethnic Conflict in the Transcausasus: The Case of Nagorno-Karabakh. Vol. 20. p. 659. {{cite book}}: |periodical= ignored (help)
^Hambardzumyan, Viktor (1978). Լեռնային Ղարաբաղի Ինքնավար Մարզ (ԼՂԻՄ) [Nagorno Karabakh Autonomous Region (NKAO)] (in Armenian). Vol. 4. Armenian Soviet Encyclopedia. p. 576.
^ ab"HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION OF INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS IN AZERBAIJAN". humanrightsclub.net. 19 June 2019. Archived from the original on 28 September 2020. Retrieved 25 October 2020. There are now about 600,000 registered Azerbaijani IDPs – roughly 40,000 from Nagorno-Karabakh and 560,000 from the surrounding seven occupied districts.
^"Azerbaijani territory came under rocket fire from the Gorus region of Armenia". APA.az. 1 October 2020. Retrieved 1 October 2020. According to the Ministry, Azerbaijani territory came under fire from the Gorus region of Armenia in the morning on October 1. Missiles fired from Armenia hit the front line in the Jabrayil-Fuzuli area.
^"Karabakh President leaving to fight in the frontline". PanArmenian.Net. Archived from the original on 2020-10-08. Retrieved 2020-10-11. Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) President Arayik Harutyunyan is leaving for the frontlintline 'to do [his] part in the battle'
^"President Ilham Aliyev: 'Azerbaijani army liberates a number of villages today'". APA.az. 3 October 2020. Archived from the original on 4 October 2020. Retrieved 3 October 2020. Today, the Azerbaijani Army liberated Talysh village of Tartar region, Mehdili, Chakhirli, Ashagi Maralyan, Shaybey and Guyjag villages of Jabrayil region, Ashagi Abdurrahmanli village of Fizuli region, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev shared this information on his Twitter page, APA reports.
^"President Ilham Aliyev: Jabrayil city and 9 villages of the region liberated from occupation". APA.az. 4 October 2020. Retrieved 4 October 2020. President İlham Aliyev said the city of Jabrayil and 9 villages of the region were liberated from the occupation: 'Today, Karkhulu, Shukurbayli, Chereken, Dashkasan, Horovlu, Mahmudlu, Jafarabad, Yukhari Maralyan, Decal villages of Jabrayil region have been liberated from occupation.'
^"Ministry of Defense: Azerbaijani Army has full dominance in the direction of Jabrayil". APA.az. 7 October 2020. Archived from the original on 9 October 2020. Retrieved 7 October 2020. 'Armenia's Ministry of Defense spread disinformation for the next time on so-called "losses" of our units in the direction of Jabrayil', Ministry of Defense told APA. It has been noted in the information that news, spread by the Armenian side is groundless and false: 'Our Army continues its counter-attack operations successfully in the direction of Jabrayil and has full dominant before the enemy'.
^"Video recording of Shukurbayli village of Jabrail"(Video). APA.az. 7 October 2020. Archived from the original on 9 October 2020. Retrieved 7 October 2020. The Shukurbayli village of the Jabrayil region liberated from the occupation, APA reports citing the press service of the Ministry of Defence.
^"MoD: Armenian armed forces are subjecting to fire our human settlements". APA.az. 7 October 2020. Archived from the original on 9 October 2020. Retrieved 7 October 2020. Armenian armed forces are subjecting to fire our human settlements, APA reports citing Azerbaijani MoD. Armenian armed forces are shelling the villages of the Terter, Barda, Aghdam, Aghjabadi, Fizuli, and Jabrayil regions. Azerbaijan Army is taking adequate actions.
^"MoD: Enemy is again shelling our human settlements". APA.az. 7 October 2020. Archived from the original on 9 October 2020. Retrieved 7 October 2020. The Armenian army is subjecting to fire the human settlements of the Terter and Fizuli regions, APA reports citing Ministry of Defense.