Aliyev announces liberation of 49 more areas from Armenian occupiers

Azerbaijan's president announced that his country's troops liberated one more town, 48 villages and eight strategic heights from Armenia's occupation, raising the total number of villages liberated on Monday to 71.

Among the villages that were liberated are Gobu Dilagarda, Yal Pirahmetli, Yuxari Yaglivend, Dilagarda, Seyid Mahmudlu and Elesgerli villages of Fuzuli province; Demirchiler, Chanagchi, Medetkend, Signaq villages of Khojaly; Susanlig, Doni, Tug, Akaku and Azikh villages of Khojavend province; Huseynalilar, Soyudlu and Ashagi Sirik villages of Jabrayil, Yukhari Mollu, Ashagi Mollu and Khojik villages of Gubadli as well as Kechikli and Ordekli villages of Zengilan province, Ilham Aliyev said on Twitter.

Aliyev, in a separate Twitter post, also said the town of Bartaz in Zengilan and five unnamed strategic hills, including 2,300-meter altitude Bartaz (1,429 miles), 1,370-meter Sigirt (0,851 miles) and 2,000-meter Shukurataz (1,242 miles) heights were also liberated.

The Azerbaijani army have liberated five cities, four towns and over 240 villages as well as some strategic hills from Armenian forces' occupation since it launched an operation in the Nagorno-Karabakh region on Sept. 27.

Relations between the two former Soviet republics over Upper Karabakh, also known as Nagorno-Karabakh, have remained tense since 1991, but fresh clashes broke out on Sept. 27.

Armenia has repeatedly attacked Azerbaijani civilians and forces, even violating three humanitarian cease-fire agreements since Oct. 10.

About 20% of Azerbaijan's territory -- including Upper Karabakh and seven adjacent regions -- has been under Armenian occupation for nearly three decades.

While world powers have called for a sustainable cease-fire, Turkey has supported Baku's right to self-defense and demanded the withdrawal of Armenia's occupying forces.

Multiple UN resolutions also call for the unconditional withdrawal of the invading forces.