Conflict Heats Up, Armenia Threatens Azerbaijan with Iskander Missiles …

YEREVAN – Armenia threatened to deploy a Russian-made Iskander-M missile system to attack Azerbaijan in war in Nagorno-Karabakh. The weapon will be operational if Turkey starts using US-made F-16 fighter jets to defend Azerbaijan.

The threat was made by the Armenian Ambassador to Russia Vardan Toganyan in an interview with the RIA news agency, which was launched on Tuesday (29/9/2020). According to him, so far the Armenian side has sufficient air defense systems to incapacitate drone Turkey and Azerbaijan. (Read: Nagorno-Karabakh War, Azerbaijan Strikes With Turkish F-16s, Kills Dozens)

Nagorno-Karabakh is an autonomous region that has become independent from Azerbaijan. The region is inhabited by ethnic Armenians and has become an ally of Armenia. However, Turkey’s defended Azerbaijan still considers Nagorno-Karabakh part of its territory.

The war in Nagorno-Karabakh broke out from Sunday and continued until Monday. Armenia accuses Azerbaijan of using Turkish F-16 fighter jets to attack its troops and Nagorno-Karabakh forces. Dozens of people died in the conflict. (Read: The Armenian War with Azerbaijan, This Is A Comparison of Its Military Strength)

“The military leadership has repeatedly stated that if the Damocles sword in the form of a Turkish F-16 hangs over the Nagorno-Karabakh people, all measures will be taken, including Iskander. This means that the Armenian Armed Forces must use all its weapons to ensure security, “Threatened Toganyan.

The Armenian side claims that 4,000 militants are fighting on the side of Azerbaijan, which Turkey has removed from Syria.

Just to note, the Iskander tactical missile system was first seen in Yerevan on 16 September 2016 during a military parade to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Armenian independence. In the winter of 2016-2017, a number of Armenian officials, including President Serzh Sargsyan, officially confirmed that the republic’s military possessed the Russian-made missile system complex. (Also read: The Armed Forces with Azerbaijan Continues, Heavy Weapons Deployed)

Armenian Defense Ministry spokesman Artsrun Hovhannisyan said at a press conference Monday that Yerevan could use heavy weaponry if “battle logic” calls for it.

Conversely, Azeri Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov responded by saying that Baku had an adequate response ready for any potential escalation on the Armenian side. However, he did not provide a specific explanation of the response to be taken.

Armenian President Armen Sarkissian accused Turkey of directly supplying Baku with military-grade drones, mercenaries and even F-16 fighter jets. However, Azerbaijan stated that Turkey did not take part in any fighting in Nagorno-Karabakh.
Ankara itself has publicly supported the latest offensive launched by Azerbaijani forces on Sunday, despite many calls from its allies in the US-led NATO alliance for restraint.

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