Today marks one year since beginning of Second Karabakh War

Today marks a year since the beginning of the Second Karabakh War.

On September 27, 2020, under the leadership of victorious Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev, the brave Azerbaijani Army launched counter-offensive operations along the entire front to prevent military provocations and combat activity of the Armenian Armed Forces and ensure the security of the civilian population.

From the first day of the fighting, the Azerbaijani Army gained a significant advantage over the enemy and began to expel the occupying forces from Azerbaijan and clear its territories of foreign troops. Thus, at the end of the first day of military operations, strategically important heights in the direction of Kalbajar, Murovdagh and Aghdara, as well as six villages - 4 in Fizuli and 2 in Jabrayil - were liberated from the occupying forces. With the support of tank units of the Azerbaijani Army, missile and artillery divisions, frontline aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), a large number of Armenian forces, military facilities and military equipment located on the front line and in the depths of defense were destroyed.

After that, the Azerbaijani Army was able to break through the enemy's line of defense, launch a rapid counter-offensive and liberate its territories from the enemy.

During the 44-day war, President of Azerbaijan, victorious Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev, often addressed the people, in his social network accounts, in interviews with foreign and local media, announced to the world that new settlements, villages and cities had been liberated from the enemy, and congratulated the people of Azerbaijan.

In his speeches during the military operations, the Supreme Commander-in-Chief said that if the enemy did not leave all the occupied territories willingly, an "iron fist" would crush their head. That's what happened! The "Iron Fist," a symbol of Ilham Aliyev's political will, commanding ability and strength of the Azerbaijani Army, crushed the heads of the Armenian occupiers and brought the enemies to their knees.

On October 3, the Azerbaijani Army liberated the Madagiz settlement of the Tartar district at the cost of blood and life. Then, President Ilham Aliyev returned the historical name of the settlement and named it Sugovushan. Just as the enemy's footprints began to be erased from the Azerbaijani lands, the ugly names they gave to Azerbaijan's historical lands were sent to the garbage can of history.

Thus, the victorious Azerbaijani Army liberated Jabrayil on October 4, Hadrut settlement of Khojavend district on October 9, Fuzuli city on October 17, Zangilan city on October 20, and Gubadli city on October 25, and proudly waved the Azerbaijani tricolor in those areas.

On November 8, 2020, the city of Shusha, the ancient cultural capital of Azerbaijan, was liberated from 28 years and six months of enemy occupation, and the Azerbaijani flag was raised in the city. The liberation of Shusha is the culmination of the momentous victory in the Second Karabakh War. It was incomparable courage and heroism to liberate Shusha from occupation with light weapons and hand-to-hand combat, crossing mountains and climbing rocks for days. With the capture of Shusha, the victorious Azerbaijani Army broke the enemy's back. The liberation of Shusha was the turning point in the war, and Armenia was forced to sign an act of capitulation. It is no coincidence that November 8 was engraved in the history of Azerbaijan as Victory Day.

On November 10, 2020, the presidents of Azerbaijan, Russia and the prime minister of Armenia signed a joint statement on the ceasefire and the cessation of hostilities. According to the document, on November 20, Aghdam, on November 25, Kalbajar, and on December 1, Lachin were liberated from Armenian occupation and handed over to Azerbaijan. The Azerbaijani Army entered all three regions without any casualties or bloodshed.

Thus, with the diplomatic skill, adherence to principles, and iron will of the President of Azerbaijan, the process of liberation of the Azerbaijani territories from occupation was successfully completed as a result of the Victory March of the Azerbaijani Army, and Azerbaijan's territorial integrity was ensured. Under the supreme command of President Ilham Aliyev, Azerbaijani Army applied the unfulfilled UN Security Council resolutions alone and liberated Karabakh from invaders in a short time! So, the Second Karabakh War, which lasted 44 days, is written in the history of Azerbaijan in golden letters as the Patriotic War.

Unfortunately, victory cannot be achieved without losses. According to the Ministry of Defense, as of July 14, 2021, the number of service members of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces martyred during the Great Patriotic War is 2,907, and 7 servicemen are missing. It is these heroes who won a great victory for the people of Azerbaijan at the expense of their blood and lives by liberating our lands from almost 30 years of occupation. We wish God's mercy to our martyrs and healing to our veterans!