Today marks the anniversary of the liberation of Hadrut, a settlement in Azerbaijan’s Khojavend district, from occupation.

Axar.az reports that Hadrut was liberated on October 9, 2020, as a result of the counteroffensive operations launched by the Azerbaijani Army on September 27, 2020.

In early October, Azerbaijani forces advanced along the southern front and moved toward Hadrut from an unexpected direction. The liberation of Hadrut was one of the key operations that largely determined the course of the war. While the opposing side expected Azerbaijani troops to approach Shusha from another direction, the Azerbaijani Army captured Hadrut before advancing toward Shusha. As a result, the fighting around Hadrut played a significant role in the subsequent liberation of Shusha.

Intense fighting began on October 7, and by October 9, Azerbaijani forces had taken control of strategically important villages and heights near Hadrut. On the same day, in addition to Hadrut, the villages of Chayli in the Tartar district; Yukhari Guzlak and Gorazilli in the Fuzuli district; Gishlag, Garajalli, Afandilar and Suleymanli in the Jabrayil district; and Sor in the Khojavend district were also liberated from occupation.

On March 16, 2021, Azerbaijani President and Victorious Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev raised the national flag in Hadrut and delivered a speech.