Four More Azeris, One Armenian Killed in Fresh Karabakh Fighting

 August 02, 2014 8:32 AM EDT

Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry said it lost four more troops in overnight clashes with Armenians near the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh in the worst escalation of tensions between the two former Soviet republics in 20 years.

The Azeri servicemen were killed while repelling Armenian attacks in Agdam and Tartar districts northeast of Nagorno-Karabakh, the ministry said today on its website.

Nagorno-Karabakh’s Defense Ministry said an ethnic Armenian soldier was also killed while resisting a “sabotage attack” by Azeri forces.

Eight Azeri and two Armenian troops were confirmed killed in skirmishes on July 31.

Armenia took over Nagorno-Karabakh, a mountainous enclave about the size of Rhode Island, and seven surrounding districts from Azerbaijan in a war after the Soviet breakup in 1991. More than 30,000 people were killed and over a million displaced before Russia brokered a 1994 truce.

Azerbaijan, which in December signed a $45 billion contract with a BP Plc-led group to pipe natural gas to Europe, has repeatedly threatened to use force to regain control of the territory should peace efforts fail.

The U.S. Department of State called on the sides to take immediate action to reduce tensions and respect the cease-fire.

“There can be no military solution to the conflict,” Marie Harf, a spokeswoman said in a statement. “Retaliation and further violence will only make it more difficult to bring about a peaceful settlement.”

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