If the enemy does not withdraw from the territories of Syunik, we must be prepared for military operations. Expert

In January-February, I had predicted that during this period, the adversary might carry out such operations; these events should not have come as a surprise to us, and we should have been as prepared as possible. This was stated by military expert Karen Hovhannisyan in an interview with Tert.am, commenting on the adversary crossing the Armenian border in Syunik and advancing 3.5 kilometers.

When asked if the operations could have a military nature, Hovhannisyan said, “We must be prepared for such a scenario; we should develop a military operation if they do not withdraw from these territories based on ultimatum deadlines. We are simply obliged to carry out the state's function, which is to preserve the territorial integrity of Armenia. A military doctrine must be developed that outlines the consequences of a series of actions in such situations following short-term military operations. Thus, we must find a solution through a short-term military option.”

Responding to the importance of the heights and the statement made by MP Andranik Kocharyan that it is a non-defensible height and there are many such heights, Hovhannisyan replied: “Strategically significant heights are also those from which the adversary’s strategically important objects can be seen. There is no height in Armenia that does not have strategic significance. I believe we must put an end to the rhetoric and soft cushion policies that suggest good, don't raise a fuss; what has happened has happened. No, we must defend every centimeter of Armenia with all our might, and defending it also means condemning the adversary's actions. This height ensures visibility not only of the Goris-Sisian road but also of the Sisian airport, and is strategically very important for Armenia.”

Hovhannisyan stated that he anticipates military operations could occur after the elections, as Azerbaijan will attempt to understand what the new authorities formed by the elections think and what capabilities they possess. “I believe that, after all, there will be short-term, episodic operations. But if we are talking specifically about Lake Sevan, if the ultimatums do not yield results, then the only option left is military operations.”