Baku: The local anti-terror measures launched in Karabakh on September 19, 2023, marked a pivotal moment in Azerbaijan's history, bringing an end to the longstanding conflict and restoring constitutional order across its entire territory. This operation, lasting less than 24 hours, completed the restoration of territorial integrity achieved during the 2020 Patriotic War by ensuring the full exercise of state sovereignty.
According to Azeri-Press news agency, Azerbaijan's efforts to resolve the Karabakh conflict date back years, with numerous attempts at negotiation yielding no results. Despite UN Security Council Resolutions and mediation by the OSCE Minsk Group, a political settlement remained elusive. The rise of Nikol Pashinyan in Armenia in 2018 introduced new challenges, with attempts to alter negotiation frameworks and harden political rhetoric.
The 2020 Patriotic War significantly shifted the regional power balance, with Azerbaijan regaining control over several territories. The November 10, 2020, statement ended active conflict but left key security issues unresolved, with armed formations still present in Karabakh. Azerbaijan steadily bolstered its military positions between 2020 and 2023, culminating in the establishment of a border checkpoint in Lachin.
Efforts to reintegrate Armenian residents into Azerbaijani society faced hurdles, with Armenia focusing on their rights and security. Political tensions heightened with Ruben Vardanyan's arrival in Karabakh in 2022, perceived as an obstacle to direct dialogue. The humanitarian situation also became contentious, with differing narratives on food shortages and proposed aid routes.
By September 2023, a paradox emerged: Armenia recognized Azerbaijan's territorial integrity, yet separatist structures operated in Karabakh. The September 19 operation was triggered by reported attacks on Azerbaijani forces and aimed to neutralize armed formations and restore constitutional order. The operation's swift success highlighted the Azerbaijani Army's capabilities, with strategic positions secured and military infrastructure neutralized.
Emphasizing a distinction between military targets and civilians, Azerbaijan established humanitarian corridors and issued warnings to minimize civilian impact. The operation transitioned to a political resolution on September 20, with an agreement for disarmament and a cessation of hostilities.
A meeting in Yevlakh on September 21 focused on the reintegration of Karabakh Armenians and marked the end of separatist military-political obstacles. The operation's strategic outcome was the elimination of the last armed barrier to Azerbaijani sovereignty.
The September 19-20 operation is seen as the culmination of a process initiated in 2020, with subsequent actions strengthening Azerbaijan's military and strategic positions. The designation of September 20 as State Sovereignty Day in 2024 underscores the operation's historical significance.
This sequence of events illustrates a strategic approach under President Ilham Aliyev, balancing diplomacy and military actions to achieve full sovereignty. The operation not only resolved a tactical military challenge but solidified Azerbaijan's authority over its entire territory, completing a transformation that began with the 44-day Patriotic War.