On March 12, the State Border Service (SBS) opened a new military unit on the state border with Armenia in the Zangilan district, AzVision.az reports.

While speaking at the event organized on this occasion, Deputy Head of the State Border Service, Lieutenant General Ilham Mehdiyev stressed that as a result of the "Iron Fist" operation under the leadership of President of Azerbaijan, Supreme Commander Ilham Aliyev, the territorial integrity of the country was ensured, the end was put to the occupation of 20 percent of the country's territory, including 132 km of the state border with Iran and 500 km of the state border with Armenia, which for almost 30 years posed a big threat to Azerbaijan’s national security.

The full mobilization of all forces and means for the successful fulfillment of the combat missions assigned by the supreme commander to the State Border Service during the second Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh War and the direct participation of the servicemen of the State Border Service in the liberation of the occupied part of the Azerbaijani-Iranian border, Fuzuli, Jabrayil, Zangilan and Gubadli districts, Hadrut settlement and Shusha city was stressed.

From the first days of hostilities, Azerbaijani border guards liberated a big territory beginning from the contact line in Fuzuli district to the state border with Armenia. The crushing blows were inflicted on the Armenian Armed Forces. A distance of 105 kilometers was covered within 24 hours. The Azerbaijani state flag was raised on the ancient Khudaferin bridge, Agbend settlement of Zangilan district and in Zangilan city. As a result of fierce battles on the border with Armenia, "Bartaz" and "Shukurataz" strategic heights liberated.

The air defense systems, anti-aircraft missile systems, missile systems, tanks, combat armored vehicles and other equipment, command posts, and numerous servicemen, in total, 290 targets of the Armenian Armed Forces were neutralized through the modernization of An-2 aircraft into unmanned aerial vehicles, their use within a special combat technique to reveal the Armenian Armed Forces’ air defense means, as well as thanks to the professional use of such UAVs as Harop, Guzgun, and Hermes.

A group of servicemen who distinguished themselves in military service was awarded at the end of the event.

Note, the territories of Azerbaijan, which was occupied by Armenia nearly 30 years ago, was liberated from the occupation during the 44-day Second Nagorno-Karabakh War. The war started on September 27 when the Armenian Armed Forces launched a large-scale military attack on positions of Azerbaijani army on the front line, using large-caliber weapons, mortars and artillery and lasted until November 10. Until November 10, the Azerbaijan Army liberated some villages and cities of Fuzuli, Jabrayil, Gubadli, Zangilan, Khojavend, Khojaly, Terter, Shusha and Lachin districts. 

On November 10, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia signed an agreement to end six weeks of fierce fighting in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Under the agreement, Russian peacekeepers were deployed along the front line in Nagorno-Karabakh under a five-year mandate and the corridor between the region and Armenia.

Also, according to the agreement, on 20 November, Armenia handed over the Aghdam region which lies to the east of Nagorno-Karabakh, to Azerbaijan. This followed on 25 November by the Kalbajar region to the northwest of Nagorno-Karabakh. 

Finally, on 1 December, Armenia handed over the Lachin District, over which the Lachin pass connecting Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia passes.

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