On the evening of August 3, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry reported that members of Armenian armed formations in Karabakh, where the Russian peacekeeping contingent is temporarily deployed, grossly violated the provisions of the Statement of November 10, 2020, and committed a terrorist and sabotage act against the Azerbaijan Army Units on August 3.

"Moreover, members of illegal Armenian armed detachments attempted to seize the Girkhgiz high ground, located on a mountain range covering the territory of the Kalbajar and Lachin regions, and establish new combat positions there," the statement added.

The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry stated that as a result of the “Revenge” retaliatory operation conducted by the Azerbaijan Army Units, the Girkhgiz high ground, including Saribaba, and several advantageous high grounds along the Karabakh range of the Lesser Caucasus Mountains were taken under control. Currently, Azerbaijan Army Units are carrying out engineering work on the establishment of new positions and laying supply roads on advantageous frontiers.

"During the operation, several combat positions of illegal Armenian armed detachments were destroyed. An airstrike was inflicted on a military unit stationed in the Yukhari Oratagh settlement of the former Aghdara region. As a result, the manpower of illegal Armenian detachments was annihilated and wounded, and several D-30 howitzers, military vehicles, and large quantities of ammunition were destroyed," the ministry stated.

Ministry said that the Republic of Azerbaijan has repeatedly stated that the presence of Armenian armed forces and illegal Armenian armed formations in the territories of Azerbaijan, where peacekeepers of the Russian Federation are temporarily stationed, remains a source of danger contrary to the Joint Statement.

"The demilitarization of those territories, the complete withdrawal of Armenian troops, and the disarmament of illegal Armenian armed detachments are absolutely necessary.

The Ministry of Defense hereby declares that following the Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan, any terror and provocation committed in the sovereign territories of the country will be resolutely prevented. Countermeasures will be even more crushing," the statement concluded.

On the morning of August 3, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry reported that Armenian armed forces in Karabakh fired intensively at the positions of the units of the Azerbaijani Army located in the direction of the Lachin region. "As a result, the soldier Kazimov Anar, a regular military serviceman, died of a bullet wound. Appropriate measures have been taken by our departments," the ministry added.

On the same day, the de-facto Defense Ministry of separatist Nagorno-Karabakh reported that two de-facto Defense Army serviceman were killed, and nineteen servicemen were injured.

Furthermore, Arayik Harutyunyan, the separatist President of Nagorno-Karabakh, signed a decree, according to which a partial military mobilization was declared in the republic from August 3, 2022.

Moreover, on August 3, Armenian servicemen discovered a soldier of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces, Kamiz Mubarizi Ibayev, who had crossed the Armenia-Azerbaijan border, the Press Office of the Armenian Defense Ministry reported. As a result of the latter's explanation of the reasons for crossing the border, it turned out that he got lost. Ibayev was returned to the Azerbaijani side through the command of the peacekeeping group of the Russian Federation stationed in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Also, on August 1, the Armenian side claimed that Azerbaijani forces had been attempting to cross the line of contact in Nagorno-Karabakh. The statement was rejected by the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense, which described the report as false, inflammatory, and misleading. 

Importantly, on August 2, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry stated that at the initiative of the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, General of the Army Sergei Shoigu, a telephone conversation was held with Azerbaijani Defense Minister Zakir Hasanov. During the telephone conversation, the sides discussed regional security and other issues of mutual interest.