(RoyalPatriot.com )- Fighting broke out overnight in several locations along the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, and it was so bad that Yerevan requested assistance from its mighty friend Russia.
This information was made public several hours after Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan of Armenia spoke on the phone late at night with President Vladimir Putin. According to reports, the Armenian government has since announced that it has asked for Russian military support to fend against Azerbaijani aggression and shelling:
It was decided to formally appeal to the Russian Federation in connection with the aggression against the Republic of Armenia’s sovereign territory to enforce the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance and Collective Security Treaty Organization and the UN Security Council.
Armenia bases its proposal on its agreement with Russia under the Collective Security Treaty Organization, which allowed Russia to send peacekeeping troops to Nagorno-Karabakh following the Fall 2020 battle.
Geopolitical analyst and Russia watcher Clint Ehrlich said if Russia accepts, we could see a second” NATO-Russia proxy war flare.”
The Prime Minister provided details regarding the provocative, aggressive actions of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces toward the sovereign territory of Armenia. The PM emphasized the significance of a sufficient response from the international community and deemed the Azerbaijani side’s conduct unacceptable.
It should be noted, though, that during the most recent significant outbreak of hostilities between the two long-standing foes who share a volatile border, Moscow took care not to become overly involved, only agreeing to assist in brokering a ceasefire and sending several hundred Russian peacekeepers to monitor the terms of the agreement.
If Moscow does become involved, the West may view this as a chance to “weaken” Russian forces on a different front.
Meanwhile, some US Congressional leaders have come out in support of Armenia, claiming unprovoked Azerbaijani aggression.
Just after midnight local time, fierce combat along the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan broke out. Both nations’ defense ministries report skirmishes in several areas. Armenia claims that its land is under attack and that Goris, Sotk, and Jermuk in the east are the targets of heavy bombardment.
Notably, there have been allegations of shelling in Armenia and gunfire exchanges far beyond the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh territory. One local correspondent reported, “Azerbaijani Armed Forces have initiated military onslaught against Armenian positions in Armenia proper.”
As tensions have been building since the last war for Nagorno-Karabakh in September through November 2020, the combat has been going on for at least two hours and may be the start of a larger, full-scale conflict.