Nagorno-Karabakh conflict: Major cities hit as heavy fighting continues

Azerbaijan's second-largest city, Ganja, has been shelled by Armenian forces, as heavy clashes continue over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region.

The self-proclaimed authorities there say they hit Ganja's military airport after Azerbaijani forces shelled the region's capital, Stepanakert.

Azerbaijan says no Ganja military sites were hit. More than 220 people have died since clashes began a week ago.

I think the take-home message in all of this is that while Azerbaijan is fighting a war of territorial reconquista, the Armenians are fighting for their very lives. I also shake my head at the hypocrisy of a media that trumpets how Nagorno-Karabakh was "stolen" from Azerbaijan and "must be returned", whereas it was perfectly fine to forcibly cut Kosovo out of Serbia...

If Azerbaijan is allowed to achieve its goals, the ethnic Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh will be mercilessly exterminated. I take heart, however, from other stories I have read about Greek volunteer groups actively recruiting and heading to Armenia to help out their Orthodox brethren.

Turkey is sending captured ISIS soldiers to fight the Armenians. Turkey has never been held accountable or punished for the Armenian genocide. There is no rational in the post Soviet era (unless you are a delusional globalist) to have Turkey a member of NATO. BTW NATO debilitates America and American commitments to Europe’s “defense” is no longer in the best intrests of the United States.

Erdogan is pushing the envelope of any entente he has with Putin. Russia has actually worked to keep down the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Russia has kept good relations with both, and actually tried to even up some of their military defenses, hoping for a military advantage of neither. It gave missiles to one and equally effective missile defenses to the other. Why, all that? The two countries are together on the southern periphery of Russia and considered by Russia as within its sphere. It is out of Russian self interest to not have conflicts between southern nations it sees as within its sphere.

Erdogan has pushed Azerbaijan into its current “reconquista” mode. Azerbaijan is 90+ % Muslim and Armenia is 90+ % Christian. Erdogan sees Azerbaijan as “brothers”.

With Russia support the truce has held for many years now. Minus Erdogan’s backing and push now, I don’t think Azerbaijan would be pursing the military clash with Armenia.

Erodogan is pushing the point of Russia having to decide to back Armenia, or not.

NATO take notice. Erdogan is also pushing the envelope of its acceptance as a NATO member. The signals have been flashing for years now - get Turkey out of NATO.

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