Azerbaijan launched a counter-offensive against the Armenian army's attacks on civilian settlements on September 27, 2020. The operation, which President Ilham Aliyev described as "Iron Fist", quickly turned into a "Homeland War" and ended with the victory of Azerbaijan after 44 days. Thus, the people's longing for land, which had been going on for about 30 years, ended.
Azerbaijan's military operation came after the blockage of negotiations that had been going on for years but had no results, the increasing harassment of Armenian forces and the provocative statements of the Yerevan administration.
The OSCE Minsk Group, co-chaired by Russia, the USA and France, could not find a solution to the Karabakh problem in its 28 years of activity. Despite President Aliyev's repeated attempts at peace, Azerbaijan took back its occupied lands with a military operation after the negotiations failed to yield any results.
Approximately 1 million Azerbaijanis were displaced from their homes and became refugees in Karabakh and the 7 surrounding provinces occupied by Armenia in the early 1990s. The decisions of the United Nations Security Council calling for the "immediate and unconditional end" of the occupation were not implemented for years.
Provocative statements of the Yerevan administration triggered the war
Nikol Pashinyan, who came to power in 2018, not only continued the occupation policy of his predecessors, but also increased the tension in the region with his words "Karabakh is Armenia". The statement of the then Minister of Defense Davit Tonoyan, "a new war for new lands", also attracted great reaction in Azerbaijan.
The actions of the Armenian army, which were not limited to verbal statements, further increased the tension. In the attack on strategic positions in the Tovuz region on July 12, 2020, the Azerbaijani army repelled the attack, but Major General Polat Heshimov was martyred in the clashes.
Heshimov's martyrdom caused a wide social reaction in Azerbaijan. While demonstrations were held in the squares with the participation of tens of thousands of people, the determination to liberate the occupied lands became even stronger.
The Azerbaijani army also increased its drills during this period. Joint exercises were held with the Turkish Armed Forces in August and September 2020.
President Aliyev personally announced the good news
The Armenian army launched a large-scale attack around 06:00 on the morning of September 27, 2020, targeting Azerbaijani positions and civilian settlements along the front line. While civilians and soldiers lost their lives in the bombardment carried out with heavy weapons, the infrastructure was also severely damaged.
Thereupon, by the order of President Aliyev, the Azerbaijani army launched a counter-attack. On the first day of the operation, 6 villages and strategic hills were liberated from occupation. Throughout the war, Aliyev personally announced the developments in the liberated regions every day, either through public statements or on his social media accounts.
The 2nd Karabakh War, called the "Homeland War", ended with the victory of Azerbaijan after 44 days. With the declaration signed on November 10, 2020, Armenia accepted defeat. Azerbaijan liberated 5 cities, 4 towns and 286 villages from occupation. In accordance with the declaration, the Armenian army also withdrew from Kelbajar, Lachin and Aghdam.
Martyrs are commemorated every September 27
Azerbaijan lost 2,908 martyrs in the war. President Aliyev declared September 27 as "Martyrs' Memorial Day". Thus, this date became a symbol of both victory and sacrifices made in the war in Azerbaijan.
3 years after the start of the war, sovereignty was fully achieved in Karabakh
Although Armenia withdrew some of its troops after the war, it continued to support its illegal armed forces in Karabakh. Following the secret shipment of mines and ammunition to the region, Azerbaijan established a border control point in the Lachin Corridor on April 23, 2023.
On September 19, 2023, 6 Azerbaijanis, including 4 police officers, lost their lives as a result of the explosion of mines laid by illegal Armenian forces. Thereupon, Azerbaijan re-established the constitutional order in Karabakh by launching an "anti-terrorist operation".
In less than 24 hours, all illegal armed groups laid down their arms and the so-called regime dissolved itself. Khankendi, Khojaly, Khojavend and Agdere came under the control of Azerbaijan. Thus, Azerbaijan's territorial integrity and sovereignty were fully ensured.
Azerbaijan extended its hand of peace
After the victory, Azerbaijan offered permanent peace to Armenia. Significant progress was made in the talks between the foreign ministries of the two countries and the parties agreed on the text of the peace agreement.
The text of the agreement was initialed at the tripartite summit held in Washington, hosted by US President Donald Trump on August 8, 2025.
