Outdated Images Circulated in Relation to the Armenia-Azerbaijan Clashes
The Claim
These images show the recent clashes between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
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Social media users and news agencies have recently circulated these images, which purportedly show the recent clashes between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Misbarās Analysis
Misbar investigated the circulating images and found them to be misleading.
A Reverse Image Search and a Google Advanced Search revealed that the images are outdated and unrelated to the recent clashes between the two countries, which started two days ago.
Outdated Images Related to the Recent Armenia-Azerbaijan Clashes
The first image making the rounds depicts an Azerbaijani soldier fixing a national flag on a lamp post in the town of Lachin, Azerbaijan. The image was taken on December 1, 2020, by Karen Minasyan for AFP Agency.
The second circulating image shows an Armenian soldier firing an artillery piece during fighting with Azerbaijan's forces in the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh. The image was released by the Ministry of Defense of Armenia on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020, via AP.
The third outdated image depicts Azerbaijan's soldiers firing from a mortar at the contact line of the self-proclaimed Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan. This image is taken from footage released by Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020, via AP.
The fourth image was also found to be out of date after investigation. The image shows howitzers firing munitions towards Armenian positions during a counter operation within the border clashes between Azerbaijan, Armenia. The image was shared by Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry on October 20, 2020, via Anadolu Agency.
The Recent Armenia-Azerbaijan Deadly Clashes
Azerbaijan stated that 50 of its own soldiers were killed, while Armenia reported a total of 105 service members killed in the clashes. Both sides claim no civilians have been killed in the fight.
According to the Armenian Defense Ministry, the clashes broke out shortly after midnight when Azerbaijani forces launched an artillery barrage and drone attacks in several areas of Armenian territory. According to the foreign ministry of Azerbaijan, late on Monday and early on Tuesday, Armenia provoked Azerbaijan.
The Nagorno-Karabakh region has long been a source of contention between the two countries. Since the end of a separatist war in the region in 1994, it has been governed by ethnic Armenian forces with Armenia's support.
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