Azerbaijani Defence Ministry reviews first half of 2024, reaffirms combat readiness PHOTO

On August 3, the Azerbaijani Defence Ministry held an extended board meeting to review the results of the first half of 2024.

The meeting analyzed the current operational situation along the conditional border and discussed urgent measures taken by the Azerbaijani army to counter provocations aimed at destabilizing the region, instigated by Armenia and its backers, Caliber.Az reports, citing the Defence Ministry.

During the meeting, the tasks set by Azerbaijani President and Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Ilham Aliyev were conveyed to the participants.

Col-Gen Zakir Hasanov, who addressed the meeting, echoed President Aliyev's statement: "No matter how many weapons and ammunition you have, no matter how many modern military technologies you use, it is soldiers and officers with weapons in their hands who win the victory."

He emphasized that the Azerbaijani Army is fully capable of executing any directive from the Supreme Commander-in-Chief with the highest level of professionalism.

The minister further stressed that to be prepared for any provocation and to ensure that no one can confront Azerbaijan with ultimatums, the army must consistently maintain a high level of combat readiness and professionalism.

The defense minister noted the importance of training in the correct and effective use in combat of the new modern weapons and equipment adopted into service. He also gave instructions on the need for a sensitive attitude toward recruits, constant attention to their health, and adaptation process.

Zakir Hasanov stressed that special attention should be paid to the observance of fire and other safety rules while on combat duty and in everyday service activities, as well as psychological training of servicemen. Hasanov gave additional instructions in connection with the engineering activities carried out in the liberated territories to conduct regular inspections and strict control over the improvement of social and living conditions and medical care of the personnel.

First Deputy Defence Minister-Chief of the General Staff of the Azerbaijani Army Col-Gen Karim Valiyev talked of measures taken in the first half of the year to improve the operational capabilities of the troops and command and control capabilities of the headquarters, works in engineering, intelligence, and other fields, positive results of successful reforms in the field of army construction. He stressed that the international and joint exercises involving various types of troops of the Azerbaijani armed forces served to further increase the level of professionalism of the servicemen.

Deputy Defense Minister-Director General Agil Gurbanov reported on the work done in the first six months of the current year in the field of provision, equipping the troops with new weapons and equipment, psychological training of the personnel, and measures in the field of military education. Referring to issues related to preparations for the winter season, the director general noted that they were organized at the highest level.

Lt-Gen Hikmat Mirzayev, Deputy Defence Minister and Commander of the Ground Forces, reported on measures to improve the combat capability of the units. He said that the intensity of exercises and training sessions involving modern weapons and equipment has been intensified, and combat duty and other service and combat activities have been organized at a high level.

Lt-Gen Namig Islamzada, Deputy Minister of Defence and Acting Commander of the Air Force, and Maj-Gen Kanan Seyidov, Commander of the Separate Combined Arms Army, also made reports at the meeting.