Tensions Escalate in Nagorno-Karabakh: Azerbaijan Shuts Armenian Airspace Amid Conflict Flare-up

On Tuesday, the volatile region of the Caucasus witnessed a significant escalation in the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan. In a unilateral move, Azerbaijan declared a shutdown of Armenian airspace, citing «anti-terrorist» operations in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region, which is adjacent to both countries. This decision comes amidst reports of artillery shelling and the deployment of surface-to-air missiles targeting Armenian forces.

As reported by Dyami Security Intelligence, Azeri forces have intensified their assaults on Armenian positions. However, as of the early afternoon Central European Time, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has yet to acknowledge this development in their Conflict Zone Information Bulletin, a crucial tool for alerting aircraft operators to potential aerial hazards.

Dyami has urged its clientele to refrain from traversing any sector of Armenian or Azerbaijani airspace, expanding its previous alert which pinpointed specific areas to avoid. Concerns are mounting that the airspace corridor that Armenia and Azerbaijan have facilitated for flights between Europe and Asia might be in jeopardy, especially given the proximity of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

This escalation has been brewing over the past week, with both nations accusing each other of escalating military presences along their shared frontier. The area, already a hotspot due to the ongoing tension between nearby powerhouses Russia and Iran, is now feared to be the ignition point for a full-scale conflict, with Turkey also potentially playing a role due to its alliance with Azerbaijan.

Interference to airliners, a raising concern

This predicament has caused alarm amongst the international community, with aviation experts fearing longer, fuel-inefficient routes might be necessary to sidestep the crisis zone. This sentiment echoes concerns surrounding airspace safety in light of previous incidents such as the downing of flight MH17 over Ukrainian territory in 2014.

In addition to the rising conflict, the region has experienced disruptions in civil aviation operations. Reports indicate that Armenian armed groups have been employing radio interference to disrupt the GPS systems of aircraft traversing Azerbaijani airspace. These provocations have intensified in recent days, raising questions about the efficacy of Russian peacekeeping efforts in the region.

The Nagorno-Karabakh region has been a long-standing flashpoint between Armenia and Azerbaijan, with both countries having engaged in two wars over this territory. Following the disintegration of the Soviet Union, Armenia embarked on a military campaign against Azerbaijan which culminated in a ceasefire agreement in 1994. However, the peace was fragile, and in 2020 the region once again descended into conflict, resulting in Azerbaijani forces reclaiming territories that had been under Armenian control for decades.