Today marks the fifth anniversary of the beginning of the 44-day Patriotic War

Today marks the fifth anniversary of the beginning of Azerbaijan's sacred war - the Patriotic War, which lasted 44 days. Exactly five years ago, on the order of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan (AR), Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Ilham Aliyev, our powerful army launched a counter-offensive operation in response to another Armenian provocation to liberate Azerbaijani lands from 30 years of occupation.

As a result of the counter-offensive measures, our military personnel, using modern high-tech weapons, effectively paralyzed the enemy by disabling their command and control points, missile and artillery systems, combat equipment, and supply routes. But weaponry was just one of the tools of our Armed Forces. The outcome of the war was determined by Azerbaijani soldiers and their brave commanders, led by the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, who demonstrated true heroism on the battlefield. Furthermore, the Armenian army's arsenal, which was defeated thanks to the courage and bravery of our military personnel, consisted of outdated weapons systems. The result of the Armenian side's use of equipment and weapons with expired operational lifespans was their shameful defeat.

This war ended with the glorious Victory of our army.

As a result of the successful "Iron Fist" counter-offensive operation, launched by the Azerbaijani army on September 27, 2020, in Karabakh and continuing until November 9, five cities, four settlements, and 286 villages were liberated from occupation, including the city of Jabrayil and 90 villages of the same district, the city of Fuzuli and 53 villages of the same district, the city of Zangilan, the settlements of Minjivan, Agband, Bartaz and 52 villages of the Zangilan district, the settlement of Hadrut and 35 villages of the Khojavend district, three villages of the Tartar district, the city of Gubadly and 41 villages of the same district, nine villages of the Khojaly district, the city of Shusha, three villages of the Lachin district, as well as several strategic heights in the direction of Aghdere and Murovdag, as well as Bartaz, Sygirt, Shukurataz and five more unnamed heights in Zangilan.

On November 10, 2020, the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, the Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, and the President of Russia Vladimir Putin signed a trilateral statement on a complete ceasefire and all military operations in the conflict zone. This document went down in history as Armenia's act of capitulation.

According to the statement, the Kalbajar, Aghdam, and Lachin districts were to be returned to Azerbaijan by December 1, 2020.

In accordance with this document, on November 20 of that year, the Aghdam district was transferred to Azerbaijan. Thus, 73% of the occupied territory of the district was liberated, including the city of Aghdam.

Under the terms of the trilateral statement, on November 25, 2020, the Kalbajar district was transferred to Azerbaijan. In other words, 147 settlements, including the city of the same name, were de-occupied.

And just a few days later, on December 1, another condition of the statement was fulfilled - the Lachin district was transferred to Azerbaijan. This completed the process of peaceful return of all three above-mentioned districts.

It should be noted that the Azerbaijani army captured a large number of equipment left by the Armenians on the battlefield as trophies. Currently, it is displayed in the Park of War Trophies in Baku.

During the Patriotic War, 2,908 servicemen of the Azerbaijani army heroically died, and six more are listed as missing in action.

On December 2, 2020, the President of Azerbaijan, Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Ilham Aliyev signed an order establishing a Day of Remembrance in the republic.

On August 8, 2025, with the participation of the Presidents of Azerbaijan and the United States and the Prime Minister of Armenia, the Foreign Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia initialed the text of the "Agreement on the Establishment of Peace and Interstate Relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia".