Three Armenian soldiers were killed in an exchange of gunfire with Azerbaijani forces, the Armenian Defence Ministry said on Wednesday, the latest military incident between the countries since their war over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh.
Both Azerbaijan and Armenia have reported occasional gun battles in recent months along their shared border, sparking fears of a flare-up in the territorial dispute.
An Azerbaijani soldier died and three Armenian troops were wounded on Friday.
“Armenian armed forces opened fire at Azerbaijani army positions at the Kelbajar sector of the Armenian-Azerbaijani state border,” the Azerbaijani Defence Ministry said.
But Armenia blamed the Azerbaijani military for initiating the incident.
"Three Armenian servicemen were wounded in the intense shoot-out," it said.
The clashes continued late into the evening, both countries reported.
The six-week war last autumn claimed about 6,500 lives and ended in November with a Russian-brokered ceasefire under which Armenia ceded territory it had controlled for decades.
Tensions between Baku and Yerevan have been running high since May, when Armenia accused Azerbaijan's military of crossing its southern frontier to “lay siege” to a lake shared by the two countries.
“This is our ancestors' land, we are on our land,” Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev told the AzTV network on Thursday, referring to the territory which Armenia considers part of its Syunik district.
In May, Mr Aliyev said Baku was ready for peace talks with Armenia.
Ethnic Armenian separatists in Nagorno-Karabakh broke away from Azerbaijan as the Soviet Union collapsed, and the ensuing conflict has claimed about 30,000 lives.
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Retired police officer Genadiy Avanesyan, 73, searches for belongings in the remains of his house, which is said was destroyed by Azeri shelling, in the city of Stepanaker. AFP -
Yasin Budakov, 40, holds a book which his kid forgot to take when they were running out of his damaged flat as residents return to their homes following a ceasefire during a military conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan. AFP -
Iman Abisiv carries his belongings from his damaged home after a ceasefire begins during the fighting over the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh in the city of Terter, Azerbaijan. Reuters -
A man looks out from his damaged home after a ceasefire begins during the fighting over the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh in the city of Terter, Azerbaijan. Reuters -
A man rummages through the remains of a home that was damaged by Azeri artillery in Stepanakert, Nagorno-Karabakh. Getty -
A woman sits in ruins of her house after shelling by Armenian's artillery during fighting over the separatist region of Nagorno-Karabakh, in Terter, Azerbaijan. AP -
Razim Mehmedov, 40, sits in a bedroom of his flat that was damaged and burnt by shelling as residents return to their homes following a ceasefire during a military conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh, in the town of Terter, Azerbaijan. AFP -
Xatire Celilova stands inside her destroyed flat following a ceasefire during a military conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh. AFP -
A man stands with his kid by a car outside a damaged apartment building after the family took their last belongings from their flat during a ceasefire during a military conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh. AFP
