Armenia says it shot down 2 Azerbaijani copters in dispute

Fighting between Armenia and Azerbaijan broke out Sunday around separatist region of Nagor-Karabakh and Armenian Defense Ministry said two Azerbaijani helicopters were shot down.

Ministry spokeswoman Shushan Stepanyan also said Armenian forces hit three Azerbaijani tanks.

Nagor-Karabakh is an ethnically Armenian enclave within Azerbaijan that has been out of Azerbaijan's control since end of a war in 1994.

Both sides have heavy military presence along a demilitarized zone separating region from rest of Azerbaijan.

Stepanyan said fighting Sunday began with an Azerbaijani attack, but Azerbaijan said Armenian side attacked and that Azerbaijan launched a counteroffensive.

news was harshly received in Turkey.

Turkey's ruling party spokesman Omer Celik tweeted: “We vehemently condemn Armenia's attack on Azerbaijan. Armenia has once against committed a provocation, igring law.” He promised Turkey would stand by Azerbaijan and said, “Armenia is playing with fire and endangering regional peace.” Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin also took to Twitter, condemning Armenia.

“Armenia has violated ceasefire by attacking civilian settlements ... international community must immediately say stop to this dangerous provocation.” 

Im credits: AP