Azerbaijan marks four years since regaining full control of its border with Iran

Today, October 22, marks the four-year anniversary of the liberation of a 132-kilometre section of Azerbaijan’s state border with Iran, which had been occupied by Armenian armed forces.

On October 22, 2020, Azerbaijani Armed Forces liberated the village of Aghband in the Zangilan district, fully restoring control over the border area along the Araz River, Caliber.Az reports.

Azerbaijani President and Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Ilham Aliyev, announced the joyful news to the Azerbaijani people, congratulating both the Azerbaijani and Iranian peoples on this historic achievement, made possible with the liberation of Aghband.

The Azerbaijani military, having liberated Aghband and its border post, reported the success to President Aliyev. On the same day, alongside Aghband, Azerbaijani forces cleared several other villages of enemy forces. These included the villages of Kollugishlag, Malatkeshin, Kand Zangilan, Genlik, Valigulubayli, Garadara, Chopedere, Tatar, Tiri, Amirkhanli, Gargulu, Bartaz, and Dallekli in the Zangilan district, as well as Mollahveli, Yukhary Rafidinli, Ashaghy Rafidinli in the Fuzuli district, and Sirik, Shikhlar, Mastalibayli, and Darzili in the Jabrayil district.

Following the liberation, the president tasked the State Border Service with swiftly establishing all necessary infrastructure along the liberated section of the Azerbaijani-Iranian border to ensure its protection. The operations of border posts were soon restored.

The village of Aghband is part of the administrative-territorial division of the Vejnali district of Zangilan. It was originally occupied by Armenian forces in 1993 and is located on the bank of the Araz River at the foot of Mount Aghband, from which the village derives its name.

By Khagan Isayev