Azerbaijan marks fourth anniversary of Tovuz battles

July 12 marks the fourth anniversary of the Tovuz battles, which concluded with a victory for the Azerbaijani army.

On July 12, 2020, the Armenian armed forces, in a blatant violation of the ceasefire, launched another military provocation by attacking Azerbaijani positions in the Tovuz district using heavy machine guns, grenade launchers, sniper rifles, mortars, and other artillery, Caliber.Az reports.

However, this provocation was thwarted; Armenian strongholds were destroyed, resulting in hundreds of Armenian military casualties. On the first day of the Tovuz battles, three Azerbaijani servicemen—conscript sergeant Vugar Sadigov, senior private Elshad Mammadov, and private Khayyam Dashdamirov were martyred while preventing Armenia’s provocation. Additionally, five servicemen were wounded, and one of them later succumbed to his injuries. The Armenian army suffered significant losses.

Tension in the Tovuz region persisted into the morning of July 13. During the night, the Azerbaijani army destroyed Armenian strongholds, artillery installations, vehicles, and personnel using artillery, mortars, and tanks. Armenia attempted to conceal its losses. On the same day, heavy artillery was once again deployed in the Tovuz district. During the fighting, the Armenian armed forces targeted the villages of Dondar Gushchu and Aghdam in Tovuz with artillery fire.

Starting on the morning of July 14, the Armenian armed forces targeted the Aghdam and Alibayli villages in the Tovuz district with large-calibre guns and artillery. This treacherous attack resulted in the deaths of Major General Polad Hashimov, Colonel Ilgar Mirzayev, and five other Azerbaijani military personnel. A 76-year-old resident of Aghdam, Aziz Azizov, was also killed due to the Armenian assaults.

By the evening of July 14, the situation had quieted down. Clashes halted on July 15 but resumed on the morning of July 16, when another Azerbaijani soldier was martyred. Numerous Armenian soldiers were killed, and military equipment was destroyed during these hostilities.

The Tovuz battles concluded with an Azerbaijani victory on July 17, without any territorial losses. Twelve Azerbaijani servicemen, including Major General Polad Hashimov, Colonel Ilgar Mirzayev, Major Namig Ahmadov, Major Anar Novruzov, Senior Lieutenant Rashad Mahmudov, Warrant Officer Ilgar Zeynalli, Warrant Officer Yashar Babayev, conscript private Elchin Mustafazade, conscript sergeant Vugar Sadigov, private-conscript Nazim Ismayilov, senior private Elshad Mammadov, and private Khayyam Dashdamirov, were martyred during the battles.

During the Tovuz battles, rallies were held in support of the Azerbaijani army. On July 14, thousands marched in Baku to show their solidarity with the Azerbaijani Armed Forces and the Supreme Commander-in-Chief. Azerbaijani citizens demonstrated strong support for the army and their leader. Tens of thousands of young people responded to President Ilham Aliyev's call, expressing a desire to voluntarily join the combat efforts through the State Service for Mobilization and Conscription.

The five-day Tovuz battles, which concluded in victory, saw Azerbaijani servicemen liberating long-occupied lands. In August, the Azerbaijani army detained 35-year-old Armenian senior lieutenant Gurgen Alaverdyan, the commander of a sabotage and reconnaissance group, as a result of successful operations.

On September 27, 2020, the Azerbaijani army launched a counter-offensive operation in response to Armenian provocations. This 44-day conflict, known as the Second Karabakh War, resulted in the liberation of Azerbaijani territories that had been occupied for nearly 30 years.

Polad Hashimov and Ilgar Mirzayev were awarded the titles of National Heroes of Azerbaijan by President Aliyev on December 9, 2020. Additionally, one million manats ($588,235) were allocated from the President's reserve fund, as specified in the 2020 state budget, to the Azerbaijani Ministry of Emergency Situations. This allocation aimed to address the damage caused to civilians in the villages of Aghdam, Dondar Gushchu, Vahidli, Alibayli, Yukhari Oysuzlu, and Ashagi Oysuzlu in the Tovuz district due to Armenia’s intense shelling. Houses and other facilities destroyed by the Armenian armed forces in Tovuz were subsequently restored.