Clash of Armenian and Azerbaijani soldiers near the disputed region, seven dead

Today, Armenia and Azerbaijan accused each other of opening fire around the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh in a conflict in which a total of seven soldiers were killed.

The two neighbors, formerly part of the Soviet Union, have repeatedly fought over the past 35 years for control of Nagorno-Karabakh, which is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan but is home to a largely Armenian population.

Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry said three soldiers were killed in clashes near the disputed Lachin Corridor, a key road to Nagorno-Karabakh that runs through Azerbaijani territory, Reuters reports.

The Armenian Ministry of Defense announced that four of their soldiers were killed and six were wounded.

Yerevan earlier accused Azerbaijan of opening fire on Armenian troops carrying out engineering works near the village of Teg in Armenia's southern Syunik province. Its forces were said to have taken "countermeasures", without giving details.

Teg is the last village on the Lachin Corridor in Armenia before entering the territory of the Azerbaijanis.

Baku claims that its troops were under "intense fire" from Armenian troops stationed in Syunik province.

Russia sent thousands of peacekeepers to the region in 2020 as part of a deal to end weeks of fighting that has killed thousands and seen Azerbaijan make significant territorial gains.

Moscow is an ally of Armenia through the pact on mutual self-defense, but also strives for good relations with Baku. The latest conflict is seen as a key test of Russian influence in the region as the country wages its own war in Ukraine.

The latest conflict is over the control of the Lachin Corridor, the only road connecting Armenia with Nagorno-Karabakh.

Azerbaijanis claiming to be environmental protesters have blocked the route since late last year, resulting in what Armenia calls a humanitarian crisis.