Turkey and Azerbaijan continue joint military exercises

Turkey and Azerbaijan on Wednesday continued joint military exercises with the participation of air and ground forces, drills organized in the wake of attacks by Armenia on Azerbaijani border points. In the exercises, which began on July 29, tanks and armored vehicles struck simulated targets on difficult terrain, and simulated strategic points were cleared of the enemy, Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry said in a statement. The statement added that Turkish and Azerbaijani troops showed a high level of professionalism and successfully completed the exercises acting in a coordinated manner. Aug. 5 is the last day of ground exercises taking place in the capital Baku and the exclave of Nakhchivan with artillery, armored vehicles, and mortars striking simulated targets. Air combat drills involving jets and helicopters will continue in Baku, Nakhchivan, Ganja, Kurdamir and Yevlakh through Aug. 10. The exercises come on the heels of an attack last month by Armenia on Azerbaijani troops in the northwestern Tovuz border region. At least 11 Azerbaijani soldiers-including a major general and a colonel-were martyred. Azerbaijan accused Armenia of taking 'provocative' actions, with Turkey warning Armenia it would not hesitate to stand against any kind of attack on Azerbaijan. Upper Karabakh, an internationally recognized territory of Azerbaijan, has been under illegal Armenian occupation since 1991.