Azerbaijani offensive against Artsakh had a specially developed tactic, report says
The Azerbaijani armed attacks against Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) on 19-20 September 2023 had a specially developed tactic, according to a report released by the Tatoyan Foundation.
"According to that tactic, 4 directions of attacks were planned. The attacks began on September 19, around 12:30pm, also targeting schools. Many people had gone on foot in the morning to get food or take care of other vital needs. That was the reason why many people could not find their family members, including children, many children were separated from their families in addition to this, the Azerbaijani armed forces immediately destroyed the civil infrastructures, separated 4 communities of Artsakh with their villages: Stepanakert, Martuni, Askeran and Martakert," its director, Arman Tatoyan, said on social media.
"Even rural and forest roads were blocked, which could have given civilian residents a chance to escape. As a priority, they cut connections between the positions of the Artsakh Defense Army and the settlements, so that the military could not inform the residents about the Azerbaijani attacks.
"The authorities of Azerbaijan had calculated well that the population of Artsakh could not show serious resistance to their armed forces, as they were in an exhausted and desperate state. Long months without gas, electricity, water, food, etc.
"As a result of Azerbaijani attacks, dozens of civilians were killed [also captured], including children. More than 100,000 Armenians were forcibly displaced, dispossessed and deprived of their homeland. Everything described is based on the Azerbaijani state policy of hatred and racism towards Armenians. Impunity for the crimes committed is also the reason for the rampant attacks.
"Moreover, when discussing the issue of those forcibly displaced from Artsakh, one should not forget about the Armenians of Artsakh who were forcibly displaced in 2020 as a result of the 44-day war," the report revealed.