BAKU — Azerbaijan has officially marked September 20 as the Day of the Cities of Khankendi, Khojaly, Khojavand, and Aghdere, celebrating their liberation from occupation. This national observance follows a series of military and political actions that reclaimed these territories.

According to Trend News Agency, the recognition comes after President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree on September 18, 2024, amending a previous order to establish official City Days for these areas, which were liberated from Armenian control. The amendment highlights Azerbaijan’s ongoing efforts to restore its sovereignty and commemorate significant victories.

The territories in question were retaken in a swift military response by the Azerbaijani Army on September 19, 2023, following provocations and alleged terrorist attacks by Armenian forces. The operation, described by the government as local anti-terrorist measures, resulted in the disarmament and expulsion of Armenian military presence in less than 24 hours, according to official reports.

The successful military campaign ensured the enforcement of the provisions of a trilateral statement aimed at securing peace in the region. It also facilitated the disbandment of Armenian separatist structures in Karabakh, who declared their dissolution shortly after the Azerbaijani advances.

President Aliyev personally participated in the symbolic act of raising the national flag in the newly liberated cities and strategic locations on October 15, 2023, solidifying the nation’s reclaim over these territories. The designated day serves not only as a remembrance of military achievement but also as an affirmation of Azerbaijan’s commitment to rebuilding and reintegrating these areas.