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The Armenia and Azerbaijan war, explained

And where it leaves war-torn Nagorno-Karabakh.

On September 27, 2020, explosions rocked the region of Nagorno-Karabakh. It’s a small, mountainous piece of land in the Caucasus, between Europe and Asia. For more than 30 years it’s been the center of a conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Both countries claim the territory and have dug their armies in along its borders. These explosions were the start of another round of fighting.

Since 1994, Nagorno-Karabakh has been controlled by Armenians, but in just a few weeks in 2020, Azerbaijani soldiers captured most of the region. Outgunned by advanced drones, Armenian forces had no choice but to retreat and finally agree to a ceasefire in early November.

To understand the early history of this conflict, why this latest war began, and how it dramatically reshapes the region, watch this episode of Vox Atlas.

You can find this video and all of Vox’s videos on YouTube. Subscribe for the latest.

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