Armenian Defense Ministry Reports on Recent Developments at Armenian-Azerbaijani Border

The Armenian Ministry of Defense has issued an official statement regarding events that took place at the Armenian-Azerbaijani border in the Tavush region yesterday and today.

The statement reads: "On July 12, around 12:30 PM, Azerbaijani armed forces attempted to breach the state border of the Republic of Armenia in the Tavush direction using a UAZ-brand vehicle. After a warning from the Armenian side, the Azerbaijani soldiers left the UAZ vehicle and returned to their positions.

At 1:45 PM, Azerbaijani military personnel made another attempt to seize the Armenian armed forces' border position by using artillery fire. However, they were suppressed by the Armenian side and were pushed back with losses.

In the evening, the Azerbaijani side resumed shelling toward the same position using an 82 mm mortar and tank. The shelling continued throughout the night with varying intensity.

All attempts by the adversary have been targeted by the units of the Armenian armed forces and neutralized. On the morning of July 13, the opponent resumed provocative actions, continuing to shell the Armenian positions. The units of the Armenian Armed Forces responded appropriately. There are no casualties on the Armenian side.

Armenian Defense Minister David Tonoyan is in constant communication with OSCE Chairperson-in-Office's Personal Representative, Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk. The Minister informed Ambassador Kasprzyk that the personnel and command of the Armenian military units have been instructed to maintain restraint, while responding as necessary to provocations from the adversary towards the borders of Armenia, up to and including seizing new advantageous positions.

The Armenian armed forces do not fire towards Azerbaijani settlements. Only the engineering infrastructure and technical resources of the Azerbaijani armed forces are targeted. The entire responsibility for the losses on the Azerbaijani side and the escalation of the situation rests with Azerbaijan's military-political leadership."