Six years on: Azerbaijan marks the start of the Patriotic War

Today marks six years since the start of the 44-day Patriotic War. On September 27, 2020, on the orders of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Ilham Aliyev, the Azerbaijani army launched a large-scale counteroffensive in response to another provocation by Armenian forces, with the stated aim of ending the nearly 30-year occupation of Azerbaijani territories.

Using modern high-tech weaponry, Azerbaijani forces effectively disrupted the adversary’s military capabilities, striking command-and-control posts, artillery and missile systems, military equipment and logistical routes. However, advanced military technology was only a means to an end. The decisive factor on the battlefield was the Azerbaijani military personnel and commanders, who, under the leadership of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, demonstrated what Azerbaijan describes as exceptional courage and determination.

The Armenian side was unable to withstand the Azerbaijani offensive, relying largely on outdated weapons systems and military equipment that had exceeded their service life.

The Patriotic War ended with Azerbaijan establishing control over significant parts of its territory. During Operation Iron Fist, which lasted from September 27 to November 9, 2020, Azerbaijani forces took control of five cities, four settlements and 286 villages in Karabakh and surrounding districts, including:

• the city of Jabrayil and 90 villages in the district;

• the city of Fuzuli and 53 villages in the district;

• the city of Zangilan, the settlements of Minjivan, Aghband and Bartaz, and 52 villages in the district;

• the settlement of Hadrut and 35 villages in the Khojavand district;

• three villages in the Tartar district;

• the city of Gubadli and 41 villages in the district;

• nine villages in the Khojaly district;

• the city of Shusha; and

• three villages in the Lachin district.

Azerbaijani forces also took control of strategic heights in the Aghdara and Murovdag directions, as well as the Bartaz, Sighirt and Shukurataz heights and five other unnamed heights in the Zangilan district.

On November 10, 2020, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan and President of Russia Vladimir Putin signed a trilateral statement on a complete ceasefire and the cessation of all hostilities — a document that went down in history as an act of Armenia’s capitulation.

Under the trilateral agreement, the Aghdam, Kalbajar and Lachin districts were to be returned to Azerbaijan by December 1, 2020:

• November 20: The Aghdam district, including the city of Aghdam and accounting for 73% of the district’s previously occupied territory, was returned to Azerbaijani control;

• November 25: The Kalbajar district was handed over, with 147 settlements, including the city of Kalbajar itself, being liberated;

• December 1: The final stage was completed, with the Lachin district being returned to Azerbaijan.

Thus, the process of returning the three Azerbaijani districts was completed peacefully. In tribute to the heroism of the martyrs, on December 2, 2020, President of Azerbaijan and Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev signed an order establishing Remembrance Day in the republic.