Today, September 19, marks two years since the local anti-terrorist measures carried out by the Azerbaijani Armed Forces in Karabakh.

Axar.az reports that the local anti-terrorist measures were launched to ensure the provisions of the trilateral statement, prevent large-scale provocations committed in the Karabakh economic region, disarm and withdraw Armenian armed forces units from Azerbaijani territories, neutralize their military infrastructure, ensure the safety of civilians returning to the liberated territories, as well as civilian workers and military personnel involved in reconstruction and reconstruction work, and restore the country's constitutional order.

Within the framework of the measures, which lasted only 23 hours and 43 minutes, the front-line and deep positions and long-term firing points of the Armenian armed forces units, as well as combat vehicles and military facilities, were destroyed with the use of high-precision weapons. Thus, the Armenian separatists were forced to raise the white flag.

Taking into account the appeal of representatives of the Armenian residents of Karabakh through the Russian peacekeeping contingent temporarily deployed in Azerbaijan at that time, an agreement was reached on September 20, 2023, at 13:00 to suspend local anti-terrorist measures under the following conditions:

1. The units of the Armenian armed forces, illegal Armenian armed groups located in the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan, shall lay down their weapons, withdraw from combat positions and military posts, and be fully disarmed. The units of the Armenian armed forces shall leave the territories of Azerbaijan, and the illegal Armenian armed groups shall be released.

2. In parallel, all weapons, ammunition, and heavy equipment shall be handed over.

3. The processes, as mentioned earlier, shall be implemented in a coordinated manner with the Russian peacekeeping contingent.

On September 20, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, addressed the people. The Head of State declared to the people that, as a result of the successful completion of local anti-terrorist measures, Azerbaijan's sovereignty had been restored. Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev noted that once again, Azerbaijani soldiers and officers demonstrated both high professionalism and high moral qualities.

President Ilham Aliyev emphasized in his address to the people that, unfortunately, there were martyrs during the anti-terrorist measures:

"May God have mercy on all our martyrs. We had wounded soldiers and officers. May God heal them. They sacrificed their lives for the Motherland, for truth and justice, for the sovereignty of Azerbaijan. Their dear memory will live forever in our hearts."

In his speech, the head of state once again warned those who despise Azerbaijan and covet our land:

"Those who despise us, covet our land, and cannot digest our success should never, never forget that the "iron fist" is in place and will always be in place! No one can speak to us in the language of dictates and ultimatums! No one should forget this! Let them also forget that Karabakh is Azerbaijan!"

Immediately after the anti-terrorist measures, representatives of the Armenian community living in Karabakh, who had repeatedly refused to meet with Azerbaijani representatives, were forced to meet in the city of Yevlakh. The meetings discussed the issues of the abolition of the separatist regime and the reintegration of Armenian residents living in Karabakh. At the same time, the Armenian population of Karabakh was allowed to familiarize itself with the reintegration conditions proposed by Azerbaijan and to make an independent decision on whether to stay in the region or not. On September 28, 2023, the head of the separatist regime in Karabakh, Samvel Shahramanyan, signed a document abolishing the so-called regime.

Thus, as a result of the anti-terrorist measures carried out in less than 24 hours, the Armenian army, which was illegally located on the territory of Azerbaijan, was completely disarmed and left the country. The illegal junta regime in Karabakh was abolished, and as a result of the measures taken by the Azerbaijani law enforcement agencies, the main leaders of the separatists were arrested.

Thus, as a result of the anti-terrorist measures, state sovereignty and the Constitutional order were restored in all territories of Azerbaijan.

On October 15, 2023, President Ilham Aliyev visited the city of Khankendi, Khojavand, Shusha, Khojaly, and Aghdara regions, visited the Askeran fortress, and raised the Azerbaijani flag there. On November 8 of that year, a military parade dedicated to the third anniversary of the Victory in the Patriotic War was held in the city of Khankendi.

By the Decree signed by President Ilham Aliyev on September 18, 2024, September 20 was established in Azerbaijan as the Day of the Cities of Khankendi, Khojaly, Khojavand, and Aghdara.

Currently, restoration and construction work are underway in the lands liberated from occupation in accordance with the strategic roadmap put forward by President Ilham Aliyev. IDPs are being returned to their native lands in stages