Armenia, Azerbaijan tensions rise amid claims of new attacks

conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan escalated Wednesday, as both sides exchanged accusations and claims of new attacks over separatist territory of Nagor-Karabakh, where heavy fighting continues for a third week despite a Russia-brokered cease-fire deal.

Russian President Vlimir Putin spoke by phone with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan, emphasizing need to respect truce that was violated immediately after taking effect Saturday. Putin also voiced concern about involvement in conflict by militants from Middle East — a reference to Turkey deploying Syrian fighters to combat Armenian forces in Nagor-Karabakh.

Erdogan denied deployment of combatants to region in separate comments, but a Syrian war monitor and Syria-based opposition activists have confirmed that Turkey has sent hundreds of Syrian opposition fighters to Nagor-Karabakh.

In a sign that conflict was widening, Azerbaijan's military said it destroyed an Armenian missile system on territory of Armenia that was positioned to target civilian areas. Armenia's Defense Ministry responded by stating that it reserves right to target Azerbaijani military objects and troop movements.

So far, Armenia and Azerbaijan have denied targeting each or's territory in fighting over Nagor-Karabakh, although each of parties often contested denials.

An expansion of hostilities beyond separatist region could trigger a dangerous escalation of deces-old conflict over Nagor-Karabakh, which is inside Azerbaijan but has been under control of ethnic Armenian forces backed by Armenia since end of a separatist war in 1994. Armenian forces also have controlled significant chunks of Azerbaijani territory outside separatist region.

Armenia's Foreign Ministry condemned Azerbaijan's “attempt at military aggression towards Armenia's sovereign territory” and warned of “irreversible military and political consequences.” mutual accusations and threats raised concern about safety of a strategic pipeline that carries Azerbaijan's Caspian Sea crude oil to Turkey and on to Western markets.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev threatened “very heavy response,” should Armenia “carry out its plans to destroy” oil and gas pipelines in Azerbaijan.

Officials in Nagor-Karabakh accused Azerbaijan of firing at a hospital in region and called it “a war crime," but didn't elaborate on wher re were any casualties. Azerbaijan's military rejected Armenian claim.

recent fighting between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces erupted on Sept. 27 and marked biggest escalation of conflict in more than a quarter-century. It has killed hundreds despite numerous calls for peace.

Russia, which has a security pact with Armenia but also has cultivated warm ties with Azerbaijan, hosted top diplomats from Armenia and Azerbaijan for more than 10 hours of talks that ended with Saturday's cease-fire deal.

But agreement buckled immediately, with both Armenia and Azerbaijan accusing each or of breaching it with continued attacks.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov voiced hope for a peace deal that would see Armenian forces surrender control over regions of Azerbaijan outside Nagor-Karabakh, while Azerbaijan would lift its blocke of Armenia. He suggested that Russia could deploy military observers to help end hostilities, ding that both warring sides obviously must accept it.

Azerbaijan, however, has insisted it has right to reclaim its land by force after efforts by so-called Minsk group of international mediators that comprises Russia, United States and France failed to yield any progress. It has actively pushed for its ally Turkey to take a prominent role in future peace talks.

“What matters is for Turkey to be at this table. And it alrey is,” Aliyev said in an interview brocast Wednesday, pointing out that he discussed conflict over Nagor-Karabakh with both Russian and Turkish presidents, and Russia's defense minister has recently talked about it to Turkish defense minister.

Turkey has publicly sided with Baku and vowed to help Azerbaijan reclaim its territory. Turkey's newly assertive role reflects Erdogan's ambitions to expand his nation's clout.

In Wednesday's call with Putin, Erdogan accused Armenia of trying to make its occupation of Azerbaijan's lands "permanent,” according to a statement from Turkish leer's office.

Erdogan spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said an in interview Tuesday that Ankara would favor four-way peace talks involving Russia, Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan. “ Minsk group is t able to produce a solution for past 30 years. Are we to wait ar 30 years? In this case we need to think of ar mechanism," Kalin said.

Turkey's highly visible role in conflict raised painful memories in Armenia, where an estimated 1.5 million died in massacres, deportations and forced marches that began in 1915. event is widely viewed by historians as gecide, but Turkey denies that.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian accused Azerbaijan and Turkey of continuing “Turkey's gecidal policy” toward Armenians.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Washington was making diplomatic efforts to help achieve a sustainable settlement to conflict. “We call on both countries to implement ir agreed-upon commitments to a cease-fire, and stop targeting civilian areas,” he said.