US Intelligence Community Identifies Azerbaijan as Aggressor in South Caucasus

The US intelligence community has officially recognized Azerbaijan as the primary threat to peace in the South Caucasus, as outlined in a required intelligence report through the congressional legislative leadership. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and civil society support the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA). “Our American intelligence community confirms what we know to be true, that Azerbaijan is the aggressor,” stated ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian.

“This definitive revelation from the Director of National Intelligence dismantles the State Department’s long-standing false equivalency narrative, which, against all evidence, encourages Aliyev’s aggression by responding to every new Azerbaijani offensive with general calls and anemic requests for both sides to refrain from violence, undermining the cause of lasting and democratic peace.”

A report published earlier this week by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) notes that “Azerbaijan is the country most likely to resume large-scale conflict in the South Caucasus, attempting to solidify and expand the gains it achieved through military actions against Armenia in 2020 over the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh.”

The report continues: “In mid-September 2022, Azerbaijan initiated a widespread assault along the international border with Armenia, striking as deep as 25 miles into Armenian territory. A ceasefire reached on September 14 has largely held, but could easily be undermined as each side continues to blame the other for heavy artillery fire. Despite the September violence, which resulted in the deaths of at least 207 Armenian and 80 Azerbaijani soldiers, diplomatically mediated activities have resumed, which we assess has helped reduce the risk of further escalation.”