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GLOBALPOST REFERRED TO AZERBAIJANI DRONE SHOT DOWN BY ARMENIAN SIDE
ARMENPRESS
OCTOBER 23, 2012
YEREVAN
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 23, ARMENPRESS: American GlobalPost drew its attention
to NKR conflict and Azerbaijani drones. As reports Armenpress, the
author of the article Nicholas Clayton mainly wrote "In a region where
a fragile peace holds over three frozen conflicts, the nations of the
South Caucasus are buzzing with drones they use to probe one another's
defenses and spy on disputed territories. Last September, Armenia
shot down an Israeli-made Azerbaijani drone over Nagorno-Karabakh and
the government claims that drones have been spotted ahead of recent
incursions by Azerbaijani troops into Armenian-held territory".
Clayton also referred to the comments of Richard Giragosian,
director of the Regional Studies Center in Yerevan, on the attacks
from Azerbaijani side "Attacks this summer showed that Azerbaijan is
eager to "play with its new toys" and its forces showed "impressive
tactical and operational improvement"~T. The author also cited the
warning of The International Crisis Group that as the tat-for-tat
incidents become more deadly, "there is a growing risk that the
increasing frontline tensions could lead to an accidental war."
"The drones are the latest addition to the battlefield. In March,
Azerbaijan signed a $1.6 billion arms deal with Israel, which consisted
largely of advanced drones and an air defense system.
Through this and other deals, Azerbaijan is currently amassing a
squadron of over 100 drones from all three of Israel's top defense
manufacturers. Armenia, meanwhile, employs only a small number of
domestically produced models. Intelligence gathering is just one use
for drones, which are also used to spot targets for artillery, and,
if armed, strike targets themselves" Nicholas Clayton noted.
Armenian and Azerbaijani forces routinely snipe and engage one another
along the front, each typically blaming the other for violating the
ceasefire. At least 60 people have been killed in ceasefire violations
in the last two years, and the Brussels-based International Crisis
Group claimed in a report published in February 2011 that the sporadic
violence has claimed hundreds of lives.
Theauthor also cited Alexander Iskandaryan, director of the Caucasus
Institute in the Armenian capital, Yerevan, saying that the arms
buildup on both sides makes the situation more dangerous but also
said that the clashes are calculated actions, with higher death tolls
becoming a negotiating tactic.
He also highlighted that the deadliest recent uptick in violence
along the Armenian-Azerbaijani border and the line of contact around
Karabakh came in early June as US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
was on a visit to the region.
From: A. Papazian
ARMENPRESS
OCTOBER 23, 2012
YEREVAN
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 23, ARMENPRESS: American GlobalPost drew its attention
to NKR conflict and Azerbaijani drones. As reports Armenpress, the
author of the article Nicholas Clayton mainly wrote "In a region where
a fragile peace holds over three frozen conflicts, the nations of the
South Caucasus are buzzing with drones they use to probe one another's
defenses and spy on disputed territories. Last September, Armenia
shot down an Israeli-made Azerbaijani drone over Nagorno-Karabakh and
the government claims that drones have been spotted ahead of recent
incursions by Azerbaijani troops into Armenian-held territory".
Clayton also referred to the comments of Richard Giragosian,
director of the Regional Studies Center in Yerevan, on the attacks
from Azerbaijani side "Attacks this summer showed that Azerbaijan is
eager to "play with its new toys" and its forces showed "impressive
tactical and operational improvement"~T. The author also cited the
warning of The International Crisis Group that as the tat-for-tat
incidents become more deadly, "there is a growing risk that the
increasing frontline tensions could lead to an accidental war."
"The drones are the latest addition to the battlefield. In March,
Azerbaijan signed a $1.6 billion arms deal with Israel, which consisted
largely of advanced drones and an air defense system.
Through this and other deals, Azerbaijan is currently amassing a
squadron of over 100 drones from all three of Israel's top defense
manufacturers. Armenia, meanwhile, employs only a small number of
domestically produced models. Intelligence gathering is just one use
for drones, which are also used to spot targets for artillery, and,
if armed, strike targets themselves" Nicholas Clayton noted.
Armenian and Azerbaijani forces routinely snipe and engage one another
along the front, each typically blaming the other for violating the
ceasefire. At least 60 people have been killed in ceasefire violations
in the last two years, and the Brussels-based International Crisis
Group claimed in a report published in February 2011 that the sporadic
violence has claimed hundreds of lives.
Theauthor also cited Alexander Iskandaryan, director of the Caucasus
Institute in the Armenian capital, Yerevan, saying that the arms
buildup on both sides makes the situation more dangerous but also
said that the clashes are calculated actions, with higher death tolls
becoming a negotiating tactic.
He also highlighted that the deadliest recent uptick in violence
along the Armenian-Azerbaijani border and the line of contact around
Karabakh came in early June as US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
was on a visit to the region.
From: A. Papazian