European Forum

Azerbaijani drone shot down over disputed Nagorno Karabakh region

On monday September 12th at 7:30 AM local time, Karakabh-Armenian forces in the ethnically Armenian controlled, self-proclaimed Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR) shot down an Azerbaijani drone that was allegedly flying 10 kilometers over the established line of contact. The incident could further destabilize an already unsteady situation.

According to Armenian officials, the drone was probably flying a reconnaissance mission over NKR-territory, but they are still investigating the wreckage for clues. They released several photographs and a video which showcases the crashed drone, an Israeli-made Elbit Hermes 450. The airplane was taken out “as a result of special measures undertaken by units of air defense and radio-electronic warfare of the Karabakh Defense Army," the army's press office reported. Azerbaijan has so far refused any comment on the incident.
   
The NKR has been broken away from Azerbaijan after the end of communist rule in the region in 1991. Most of the inhabitants before the war, and all of the inhabitants since are ethnic Armenians. NKR is not recognized as an independent state, even by Armenia, although it does rely on the latter for support to a large extent, and has good relations with it, as the only passage to the outside world.  A bitter war in 1991-1994 ended in an uneasy compromise that made the region de facto self-governing. Recently, activity along the line of contact has increased, with more frequent border patrols by both parties and amplified Azerbaijani drone movement.

The shooting down of an unmanned aerial vehicle is a first since the 1994 truce came into effect and ads to fears of renewed large-scale fighting in the region. Armenia officially announced in June that it was also manufacturing UAVs.

Sources: RFERL, EurasiaNet, Spero News, Image