Armenia-Azerbaijan fighting worries US, Russia

Russia and the United States are both on the same page and calling for peace. Not in Ukraine, but in another war-torn region involving two former members of the Soviet Union.

Over the last few days, fighting broke out again between Armenia and Azerbaijan, worrying the U.S., Russia and other nations. The two countries are located south of Russia. The decades-old fight focuses around the disputed area known as Nagorno-Karabakh.

Armenia and Azerbaijan each blame the other side for starting the most recent clash, which has already killed at least 100 people. Armenia’s Defense Minister said Azerbaijan launched mortar and drone attacks in Armenian territory. Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry said it was responding to a “large-scale provocation” by Armenia. There are several pipelines in the region transporting Caspian oil and gas westward. Pipelines which could now be at risk.

Russia is more or less friendly with each nation but only has a military alliance with Armenia. Turkey backs Azerbaijan. So, a conflict in the region, at the crossroads of Europe, Asia and the Middle East, is stoking the very real fear of a large-scale conflict drawing in other nations.

Armenia is already calling on Russia for military assistance. Russia negotiated a cease-fire between Armenia and Azerbaijan in 2020 and sent 2,000 troops to keep the peace.

Though Russia is now preoccupied with the war in Ukraine, the long-simmering tensions have boiled over. Now Russia, the United States and France have all called for calm in the wake of the renewed fighting. An alliance of former Soviet nations is sending a team to monitor the situation.

Reuters contributed to this report.