{"id":25940,"date":"2026-08-11T15:18:36","date_gmt":"2026-08-11T14:18:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.earth-site.co.uk\/Education\/the-second-nagorno-karabakh-war-of-2020-explained-2\/"},"modified":"2026-08-11T15:18:36","modified_gmt":"2026-08-11T14:18:36","slug":"the-second-nagorno-karabakh-war-of-2020-explained-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.earth-site.co.uk\/Education\/the-second-nagorno-karabakh-war-of-2020-explained-2\/","title":{"rendered":"The Second Nagorno-Karabakh War of 2020 Explained"},"content":{"rendered":"

The 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War, often referred to as the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War, was a 44-day armed conflict between Azerbaijan, supported by Turkey, and the self-proclaimed Republic of Artsakh alongside Armenia. It largely resolved the long-standing territorial dispute over the Nagorno-Karabakh region and surrounding territories, ending with a decisive Azerbaijani victory.<\/p>\n

To understand the 2020 war, we need to glance back at history. The conflict isn’t new; it\u2019s a deep-seated ethnic and territorial dispute that simmered for decades.<\/p>\n

A Legacy of Disputed Territory<\/h3>\n

Nagorno-Karabakh, an ethnically Armenian-majority region, was designated an autonomous oblast within Soviet Azerbaijan in the 1920s. This administrative decision, made by Moscow, became a ticking time bomb. When the Soviet Union began to crumble in the late 1980s, the region sought to secede from Azerbaijan and join Armenia, leading to a brutal war in the early 1990s.<\/p>\n

The First Nagorno-Karabakh War (1988-1994)<\/h3>\n

This earlier conflict saw Armenia and the Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians gain control not only of the mountainous enclave itself but also of seven surrounding districts of Azerbaijan. These districts, predominantly Azerbaijani prior to the war, acted as a crucial land bridge to Armenia. Hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis were displaced from these areas and from Nagorno-Karabakh, becoming internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees. This created a frozen conflict, with Azerbaijan consistently vowing to reclaim these territories.<\/p>\n

The Minsk Group and Failed Diplomacy<\/h3>\n

Following the 1994 ceasefire, the OSCE Minsk Group, co-chaired by France, Russia, and the United States, was established to mediate a peaceful resolution. Over the years, numerous peace proposals were put forward, but none gained traction. Azerbaijan insisted on the return of its internationally recognised territories, while Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh maintained that the region\u2019s self-determination was paramount and that its security required control over the surrounding areas. The lack of progress bred frustration on both sides, particularly in Azerbaijan, where the return of lost territories became a central tenet of national identity and political discourse.<\/p>\n

What Sparked the Fighting in 2020?<\/h2>\n

While the underlying causes were historical, the immediate trigger for the 2020 war was a complex mix of factors, including escalating tensions, military build-ups, and a shifting geopolitical landscape.<\/p>\n

Escalating Border Clashes<\/h3>\n

Throughout the 2010s, there were sporadic but increasingly intense clashes along the Line of Contact (LoC) separating the forces. The \u2018Four-Day War\u2019 in April 2016 was a significant escalation, demonstrating Azerbaijan’s improved military capabilities and its willingness to use force. These skirmishes served as a grim preview of what was to come, with both sides testing capabilities and resolve.<\/p>\n

Azerbaijan’s Military Modernisation<\/h3>\n

In the years leading up to 2020, Azerbaijan invested heavily in modernising its military, largely funded by its oil and gas revenues. It acquired advanced weaponry from Turkey, Israel, and Russia, including drones (especially Turkish Bayraktar TB2s), precision-guided munitions, and artillery. This technological advantage proved crucial in the subsequent conflict. Armenia, by contrast, had a more limited budget and largely relied on older Soviet-era equipment, though it also had some modern Russian arms.<\/p>\n

Geopolitical Shifts and Turkish Involvement<\/h3>\n

Turkey’s increased assertiveness in the South Caucasus was another key factor. Ankara openly backed Azerbaijan, providing military training, equipment, and political support. This was seen by some as part of Turkey’s broader foreign policy objectives, aiming to expand its influence in the region. The relationship between Turkey and Azerbaijan, rooted in shared Turkic heritage, deepened considerably. This support, particularly the provision of drones and alleged Syrian mercenary fighters, significantly altered the military balance.<\/p>\n

The Course of the War: A New Kind of Conflict<\/h2>\n

<\/p>\n

The 2020 war was notably different from the 1990s conflict, primarily due to Azerbaijan’s effective use of modern technology.<\/p>\n

Azerbaijan’s Drone Advantage<\/h3>\n

The most significant aspect of the war was Azerbaijan\u2019s sophisticated use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), particularly the Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2 and Israeli loitering munitions (often called “kamikaze drones”). These drones proved devastatingly effective against Armenian and Artsakh ground forces. They identified and destroyed Armenian tanks, artillery pieces, air defence systems, and troop concentrations with precision, often before Armenian forces could even detect them. This dramatically reduced Azerbaijan’s conventional ground force casualties while inflicting heavy losses on the Armenian side.<\/p>\n

Artillery and Rocket Fire<\/h3>\n

Alongside drone warfare, Azerbaijan employed heavy artillery, multiple rocket launchers, and ballistic missiles against military targets and, at times, civilian areas in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia proper. Armenia retaliated with similar weapons, targeting Azerbaijani cities and towns near the front lines. Both sides accused the other of war crimes, including targeting civilians and using prohibited weapons.<\/p>\n

Ground Offensives and Strategic Gains<\/h3>\n

Azerbaijan initiated its ground offensive from the south, aiming to reclaim the lowland territories previously occupied by Armenian forces. This strategy was effective, as the terrain was less mountainous and more open, making it easier for Azerbaijani forces to advance and for their drones to operate. Key gains included Fuzuli, Jabrayil, Zangilan, and Gubadli districts.<\/p>\n

The Fall of Shusha (Shushi)<\/h3>\n

One of the most strategically and symbolically important battles was for the town of Shusha (known as Shushi to Armenians). Perched on a strategic plateau overlooking the Nagorno-Karabakh capital, Stepanakert (Khankendi to Azerbaijanis), its capture by Azerbaijani forces in early November was a decisive turning point. This victory effectively cut off the main supply route to Stepanakert and made further Armenian resistance untenable. Its capture was a massive morale boost for Azerbaijan and a devastating blow to Armenia.<\/p>\n

The Ceasefire and its Consequences<\/h2>\n

<\/p>\n

The conflict ended abruptly with a Russian-brokered ceasefire agreement, significantly altering the geopolitical map of the region.<\/p>\n

The 9 November Trilateral Statement<\/h3>\n

On 9 November 2020, a trilateral statement was signed by the leaders of Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Russia, bringing an end to the fighting. Key provisions of the agreement included:<\/p>\n