Battle of Aghdam

Part of the Nagorno-Karabakh War

Date	12 June – 23 July 1993
Location	Aghdam, Nagorno-Karabakh
Result	Decisive Armenian victory

Belligerents

Armenia

Nagorno-Karabakh Republic

Azerbaijan

Commanders and leaders

Samvel Babayan

Anatoly Zinevich

Vitaly Balasanyan

Talib Mammadov

Strength

6,000 troops,
1 squadron of Mi-24's
~ 60 tanks

6,000 troops,
unknown number of tanks, armoured fighting vehicles and Mi-24 helicopters

Casualties and losses

unknown

The Battle of Aghdam (June – July 1993) – took place on 23 July 1993 in the context of the Nagorno-Karabakh War, during which Armenian forces captured the city of Aghdam.

Following Operation Goranboy in 1992, the Azeri forces lost the control of the territory of former Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast by mid-1993. During the military rebellion in Ganja by Colonel Surat Huseynov followed by political turmoil in Baku in June 1993, Huseynov pulled his forces back from the Karabakh front and marched on Baku. The Armenian forces advanced on Agdam. The city of Agdam is about 30 km northeast of Stepanakert. Azerbaijanis in Agdam and Armenians in Stepanakert and Askeran would exchange heavy artillery fire. The shelling of Agdam became more intense starting from early March 1993.

The occupation of Agdam started on June 12 from north and south of Agdam using Grad missile launchers, heavy artillery and tanks. The campaign also included simultaneous assault on Tartar. The first attack on the city was repelled by Azerbaijani defense. The clash was marked by the death of Monte Melkonian, a famed Armenian military commander. Armenians were able to capture Farukh mountain 10 km away from Agdam overlooking the town from the northeast. Khydyrly village around which Azerbaijani forces took up positions fell next. Shelling of Qiyasli village situated several kilometers behind the city of Agdam to the east, started on June 20 and within three days was overrun by Armenian forces. At the same time, the Armenian forces moved towards the city from the south occupying Merzili and Yusifcanlı villages. By July 5, the city of Agdam was surrounded by Armenian forces and was subject to heavy artillery and Grad bombardment. The city of Agdam fell on July 23.

...
Wikipedia