Armenian forces have operational advantage in the southern direction, the fights continue - MoD representative
"Today in the morning, earlier than usual, the Azerbaijan troops launched an offensive in several directions of the Artsakh frontline," Armenia's Defense Ministry representative Artsrun Hovhanissyan said at the daily briefing on the situation in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone.
In his words, first, in the northern direction after a short artillery fire, the adversary attempted to advance with an infantry but were pushed back, leaving dozens of bodies on the battlefield. Throughout the day, fightings continued in the southern direction as well, mainly on number of hills to the north of Araks river.
"Our Armed Forces have certain operational advantage, but the fights continue, and I cannot report anything specific," said Hovhannisyan. He next added, that two separate attacks were initiated in the central direction. The enemy forces have attempted to break the frontline in Martuni-Tchartar section through intensive attacks, mainly without armored vehicles, instead using attacking groups accompanied by artillery fire. "Our forces didn't yield and no changes of combat positions is reported for now. The fights are however persistent," added the MoD representative.
He informed that Armenian forces recorded good results overnight in the fighting with subversive groups and terrorist mercenaries who had penetrated to the west of Karmir Shuka village. Large groups were neutralised, the Armenian forces discovered and destroyed ammunition in the zone of their activities. The battles continue, as smaller groups of the enemy appear from time to time in adjacent forests, retreat and then again attempt to advance.
"The war has lost its previous intensity, however, in separate locations, whenever clashes occur, they involve artillery, air forces and other means. Armored vehicles are rarely used at present, as when detected, our artillery and anti-tank guns destroy immediately any major moving target," said Hovhannisyan.