Posted on 09/14/2022 1:30:09 PM PDT by BenLurkin
Fighting on the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan killed about 100 troops Tuesday as attacks on both sides fed fears of broader hostilities breaking out between the longtime adversaries.
Armenia said at least 49 of its soldiers were killed; Azerbaijan said it lost 50.
The fighting erupted minutes after midnight with Azerbaijani forces unleashing an artillery barrage and drone attacks in many sections of Armenian territory, according to Armenia’s Defense Ministry. It said shelling grew less intense during the day but Azerbaijani troops were trying to advance into Armenian territory.
Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry said it was responding to a “large-scale provocation” by Armenia late Monday and early Tuesday. It said Armenian troops planted mines and fired on Azerbaijani military positions.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnbc.com ...
Look for a lot of conflicts around the Russia bordered states. A lot of them have been suppressed by the threat of force from Russia and now feels emboldened to act.
There will be lots of settling of old scores, and attempts to reclaim territory either lost directly to Russia, or(in their view) Russia unjustly took and gave to another neighbor.
This is not our concern either but for those keeping score:
Armenia is the Christian nation
The other is Muslim.
The Caucuses are a rough neighborhood, and you have to feel for the Armenian people. Like Jews and Kurds, they have been persecuted for centuries. Still, it’s hard to miss the karma of Armenia looking away when a larger, more powerful country invaded it’s neighbor, and now when Armenia’s larger, more powerful neighbor attacks them, there is no one to help. The CSTO, the Post Soviet answer to NATO, appears not worth the paper it was written on. Anyway, lots of old scores to be settled in this region. Hopefully they can work it out quickly...
If Armenia lost at least 99 men, they might be doing ‘War’ wrong. I hope those in charge are not as stubborn as Putin.
Pardon me...Armenia has lost 49. NOT 99.
“Look for a lot of conflicts around the Russia bordered states. A lot of them have been suppressed by the threat of force from Russia and now feels emboldened to act.”
So true.
“There will be lots of settling of old scores, and attempts to reclaim territory either lost directly to Russia, or(in their view) Russia unjustly took and gave to another neighbor.”
Also true.
“Anyway, lots of old scores to be settled in this region. Hopefully they can work it out quickly...”
Yup.
Look for Turkey to try to reassert itself in that region.
“Look for Turkey to try to reassert itself in that region.”
That could very well happen.
Armenia is tight with Russia, whereas Azerbaijan (which declared independence from the USSR back in 1991) has pretty good relations with the US. Azerbaijan controls the Baku oil fields.
The relationship between Armenia and Azerbaijan is...complicated. They take turns playing the West and Russia off against each other, as they are both (Armenia and Azerbaijan) seeking to shake down one or the other (Russia or the West). Historically, Armenia and Russia have had fairly close ties. Azerbaijan, on the other hand, was a reluctant Soviet Socialist Republic.
Turkey and Armenia have a very bloody history, and there is great animosity between the two.
This could get interesting.
Wouldn't be a surprise at all. The Ottoman Empire extended all the way to what is now Georgia and Chechnya, and we know Erdogan fantasizes of a neo-Ottoman Empire the same way Putin fantasizes of a neo-Russian Empire. The Caucuses have been a source of conflict going back to the Ottoman and Russian Empires. As they say, while the cat's away, the mice will play.
Second round of fallout from the dereliction and abandonment of leadership by America. The first round led to the Ukraine conflict, and now this is the follow-on to Putin’s preoccupation with the west. He’s not taking care of business on his doorstep. Similarly, NATO allies Greece and Turkey are once again at each others’ throats; Armenia and Azerbaijan are at it again; the EU is fighting among themselves, their so-called “unity” shattered by the pressure of the ill-advised bidensanctions. And Libya’s interminable civil war is flaring up.
With America drifting leaderless toward the rocks, the rest of the world is unraveling.
Oh and let’s not forget the border violence among the “stans” of South Asia.
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