A lot happens every day. Alliances shift, leaders change, and conflicts erupt. With In Brief, we’ll help you make sense of it all. Each week, experts will dig deep on a single issue happening in the world to help you better understand it.***Last week, Azerbaijan launched a military operation into the breakaway enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh, home to approximately 120,000 ethnic Armenians. The offensive lasted just 24 hours and ended in a ceasefire that would bring the territory entirely under Baku’s control. Now, an estimated 13,000 ethnic Armenians have fled from the enclave and the Armenian government has said that an “ethnic cleansing” is underway. We asked three experts what led to this latest wave of violence, how it could play out, and how it could affect other countries in the region. Read more below. Richard Giragosian Director, Regional Studies CenterIn a military assault on September 19, Azerbaijani forces achieved a rapid victory over the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh. The Azerbaijani victory, which forced the Armenians of Karabakh to accept a humiliating ceasefire, was complete within 24 hours. The capitulation of Nagorno-Karabakh was a blow, especially as it included an agreement to disarm the local Karabakh army, effectively surrendering the last remaining deterrent and protection for the Karabakh Armenians. Yet Azerbaijan’s military attack was neither new nor surprising but was a continuation of the 2020 war for Karabakh, which was a dangerously incomplete victory that prompted a second attack. Similarly, Azerbaijan’s real objective remains as yet unmet, as it seems intent on the full conquest of Karabakh, most likely after driving out the remaining Armenian population.Pınar Sayan Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science and International Relations, Beykoz University & Researcher, Istanbul Political Research InstitutThe second Nagorno-Karabakh War in 2020 resulted in the military victory of Azerbaijan, but the final status of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
Members-Only Content
This article is reserved for War on the Rocks members. Join our community to unlock exclusive insights and analysis.
A lot happens every day. Alliances shift, leaders change, and conflicts erupt. With In Brief, we’ll help you make sense of it all. Each week, experts will dig deep on a single issue happening in the world to help you better understand it.***Last week, Azerbaijan launched a military operation into the breakaway enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh, home to approximately 120,000 ethnic Armenians. The offensive lasted just 24 hours and ended in a ceasefire that would bring the territory entirely under Baku’s control. Now, an estimated 13,000 ethnic Armenians have fled from the enclave and the Armenian government has said that an “ethnic cleansing”