Three Azerbaijani soldiers killed in fresh Karabakh fighting

The soldiers died while repelling an Armenian attack in an undisclosed location, according to a ministry statement on its website. 

The attack took place in Gadabay District two days ago, according to local media reports. Armenians were forced to retreat after suffering losses, the reports said.

Defense Minister Col.-Gen. Zakir Hasanov decreed to decorate the fallen soldiers posthumously.

The enemy lost 17 troops in fighting this month alone, the ministry said.

Armenia captured nearly one-fifth of Azerbaijan’s internationally-recognized territory in a war after the Soviet breakup in 1991.

While major hostilities ended with a cease-fire in 1994, no peace agreement has been signed.

Armenia has yet to comply with four UN Security Council resolutions calling for immediate and unconditional withdrawal from the occupied territory.

Azerbaijan says it reserves the right to use force to regain control of the territory should peace efforts led by Russia, France and the US fail.