Today, September 19, marks three years since the local anti-terror operation conducted by the Azerbaijani Armed Forces in Karabakh.

Axar.az reports that the local anti-terror operation was launched with the aim of ensuring the implementation of the provisions of the trilateral statement, preventing large-scale provocations carried out in the Karabakh economic region, disarming and withdrawing units of the Armenian armed forces from Azerbaijani territory, neutralizing their military infrastructure, ensuring the security of civilians returning to liberated territories, as well as civilian workers and military personnel involved in reconstruction efforts, and restoring the country’s constitutional order.

The operation lasted a total of 23 hours and 43 minutes. During the operation, the positions and long-term firing points of units of the Armenian armed forces on the front line and in depth, as well as military equipment and military facilities, were destroyed using high-precision weapons. As a result, Armenian separatists were forced to raise the white flag.

Taking into account the appeal by representatives of the Armenian residents of Karabakh through the Russian peacekeeping contingent temporarily stationed in Azerbaijan at the time, an agreement was reached to halt the local anti-terror operation at 13:00 on September 20, 2023, under the following conditions:

1. Units of the Armenian armed forces stationed in Azerbaijan’s Karabakh region and illegal Armenian armed groups would lay down their arms, withdraw from combat positions and military posts, and be fully disarmed. Units of the Armenian armed forces would leave Azerbaijani territory, while illegal Armenian armed groups would be dissolved.

2. All weapons, ammunition and heavy equipment would be handed over simultaneously.

3. The implementation of the above-mentioned processes would be coordinated with the Russian peacekeeping contingent.

On September 20, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev addressed the nation. The head of state announced to the people that Azerbaijan’s sovereignty had been restored as a result of the successful completion of the local anti-terror operation. Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev noted that once again, Azerbaijani soldiers and officers had demonstrated both high professionalism and high moral qualities.

In his address to the nation, President Ilham Aliyev emphasized that, unfortunately, there had been casualties during the anti-terror operation: “May Allah have mercy on all our martyrs. We had wounded soldiers and officers. May Allah grant them healing. They sacrificed their lives for the homeland, for justice, and for the sovereignty of Azerbaijan. Their cherished memory will live forever in our hearts.”

In his speech, the head of state once again warned those who looked down on Azerbaijan and coveted its territory:

“Those who look down on us, those who covet our land, those who cannot stomach our success should never, ever forget that the ‘Iron Fist’ is in its place and will always remain in its place! No one can speak to us in the language of diktat and ultimatums! Let no one forget this! And let no one forget that Karabakh is Azerbaijan!”

Immediately after the anti-terror operation, representatives of the Armenian community living in Karabakh, who had repeatedly refused to meet with Azerbaijani representatives, were compelled to meet in the city of Yevlakh. The meetings discussed the dissolution of the separatist regime and the reintegration of Armenian residents living in Karabakh. At the same time, the Armenian population of Karabakh was given the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the reintegration conditions proposed by Azerbaijan and independently decide whether to remain in the region. On September 28, 2023, Samvel Shahramanyan, the head of the separatist regime in Karabakh, signed a document on the dissolution of the unrecognized regime.

Thus, as a result of the anti-terror operation carried out in less than 24 hours, the Armenian army illegally stationed on Azerbaijani territory was fully disarmed and left the country. The illegal junta regime in Karabakh was dissolved, and the main leaders of the separatists were arrested as a result of measures carried out by Azerbaijani law enforcement agencies.

Thus, as a result of the anti-terror operation, Azerbaijan’s state sovereignty and constitutional order were restored throughout the country.

On October 15, 2023, President Ilham Aliyev visited the city of Khankendi, as well as the Khojavand, Shusha, Khojaly and Aghdara districts. He also visited the Askeran Fortress and raised the Azerbaijani flag there. On November 8 of the same year, a military parade dedicated to the third anniversary of the Victory achieved in the Patriotic War was held in Khankendi.

On September 18, 2024, President Ilham Aliyev signed an order establishing September 20 in Azerbaijan as the Day of the Cities of Khankendi, Khojaly, Khojavand and Aghdara.

Currently, extensive reconstruction efforts are underway in the liberated territories in accordance with the strategic roadmap put forward by President Ilham Aliyev. Internally displaced persons are being gradually resettled in their native lands. It can confidently be said that all projects related to the revival of Karabakh and Eastern Zangazur will be successfully completed, and these regions will become among the most beautiful parts of Azerbaijan.