Today marks six years since the beginning of the Patriotic War. On this occasion, Remembrance Day is celebrated in Azerbaijan.
Six years ago, the Azerbaijan Army launched a rapid counter-offensive operation in response to Armenia’s aggressive policy and military provocations along the front line. By the order of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Ilham Aliyev, our army began the struggle for the liberation of our lands. The valiant Azerbaijan Army rapidly cleared the territories that had been under occupation for 30 years from the enemy’s grip. The Patriotic War is also remembered as the most exemplary embodiment of the unity of the people, the army, and the government worldwide.
However, during the war, our country also faced a number of unfair external pressures, and there were attempts to adopt resolutions against us in the UN Security Council. But Ilham Aliyev’s resolute policy successfully overcame these pressures, and the successful operations of our army concluded with a logical result.
Thus, as a result of the 44-day “Iron Fist” operation of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces, which began in Karabakh on September 27 and lasted until November 9, five cities, four settlements, and 286 villages were liberated from occupation.
As a result of the Patriotic War, the city of Jabrayil and 90 villages of the district, the city of Fuzuli and 53 villages of the district, the city of Zangilan, the settlements of Minjivan, Aghband, Bartaz and 52 villages of the district, the settlement of Hadrut and 35 villages of the Khojavand district, the villages of Talish, Sugovushan, and Chayli of the Tartar district, the city of Gubadli and 41 villages of the district, nine villages of the Khojaly district, the city of Shusha, three villages of the Lachin district, as well as several strategic heights in the directions of Aghdara and Murovdag, and the Bartaz, Sighirt, Shukurutaz heights and five more unnamed heights in Zangilan were liberated from the enemy’s grip.
On November 10, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, and President of Russia Vladimir Putin signed a statement on the complete cessation of fire and all military operations in the conflict zone. This document is also remembered as Armenia’s act of capitulation. According to the agreement, the Kalbajar, Aghdam, and Lachin districts were returned to Azerbaijan without any losses.
With the Patriotic War, the Armenian army was crushed, and the myth that the Armenians created about themselves was sent to the dusty pages of history.
It should be noted that the Azerbaijan Army seized a large amount of military booty from the Armenians who fled the battlefield. Currently, those military trophies are on display at the Military Trophy Park.
We should also add that Azerbaijan gave 2908 martyrs in the 44-day war, and six servicemen went missing.
On December 2, 2020, President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree on the establishment of Remembrance Day in the Republic of Azerbaijan.
According to the decree, September 27 is celebrated annually as Remembrance Day in the Republic of Azerbaijan.