Azerbaijan Says Repels Armenian Cross-Border Raid

Azerbaijan on Wednesday said it had repelled a cross-border raid by Armenian forces in the latest outbreak of violence over the disputed Nagorny Karabakh region.

"During the night an Armenian commando reconnaissance team tried to cross the line of contact in the southwestern sector of the frontline," Azerbaijan's defense ministry said in a statement.

"The attempt to cross the line of contact was prevented and the group was forced to retreat after sustaining casualties," the statement said.

On Monday, officials from the Armenian-backed breakaway republic said that one soldier from the separatist forces was killed during a thwarted cross-border attack by Azerbaijani forces.

Armenia-backed separatists seized Nagorny Karabakh from Azerbaijan in a 1990s war that killed 30,000 people. Despite years of negotiations since a 1994 ceasefire, the two sides have still not signed a peace deal.

Azerbaijan has threatened to take back the disputed region by force if negotiations do not yield results, while Armenia has vowed to retaliate against any military action.

Around 20 soldiers from both the Armenian and Azerbaijani sides were reportedly killed last year.