Turkish defense minister personally oversaw strikes against Nagorno-Karabakh - Russian paper

Diplomatic and military sources have revealed to the Russian Kommersant newspaper that Turkey's minister of defense, Hulusi Akar, was personally in charge for the Azerbaijani attacks against the Nagorno-Karabakh (Artskh) Republic in the period between September 28-30.

In an extensive article, the paper provides details about the military operations "previously plotted and provoked" by Turkey's military-political leadership.  Ankara is claimed to have actively pushed Baku into unleashing military operations in the previous couple of months, promising in return a comprehensive political, diplomatic and intelligence assistance.

"After the latest Turkish-Azerbaijani military exercises in July and August, many contingents of the Turkish armed forces remained on the territory of Azerbaijan to coordinate and lead the offensives against Nagorno-Karabakh," an informed source said.

The 600 troops comprised a tactical unit of 200 soldiers and 50 commanders stationed in Nakhichevan, 90 military advisors in Azerbaijan's capital, Baku, a 120-member flight-tactical team at the Gabala airbase,  as well as 20 drone operators at Dollyar airport, 50 commanders at Yevlakh airport, 50 commanders in the 4th Army Corps and 20 people at the Naval Base and the Military Institute of Baku.

Minister Hulusi Akar and Commander of the Turkish Ground Forces General Umit Dündar arrived in Azerbaijan from September 28 to 30 (the period reported to be the fiercest since the eruption of the hostilities) to coordinate the military operations on the ground.  

The sources also claimed that 200 machine guns and ammunitions were transported from Amman to Baku on October 9, using Georgia's airspace as a flight corridor. Turkey had earlier requested transit flight permits from the Georgian aviation authorities also for October 14, 21 and 28.

"Turkey's representatives recruit mercenaries from among the pro-Ankara Islamist groups fighting in Syria and Libya to join the military operations on behalf of Azerbaijan. Their transportation is carried out under the Turkish Defense Ministry's support. An estimated 1,300 Syrian militants and troops consisting of at least 150 Libyan mercenaries were deployed to the Nagorno-Karbaakh conflict zone in the first week of October. The mercenaries were offered a monthly salary of up to $2,000," the newspaper said.