Ilham Aliyev discusses 2020 conflict in Le Figaro interview

In an interview with the French newspaper Le Figaro on October 24, 2020, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev addressed the origins of the military conflict that began on September 27, 2020. Aliyev stated that Azerbaijan did not initiate an attack on Nagorno-Karabakh, but rather responded to military provocations by Armenian forces.

He noted that the conflict followed three months of military provocations and aimed to prevent the seizure of strategic energy infrastructure. Aliyev specifically mentioned the importance of the Southern Gas Corridor and the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline, suggesting that Armenian objectives included gaining control over these assets to potentially blackmail European energy consumers. He characterized the subsequent 44-day military operation, known as the “Iron Fist,” as a necessary response to restore territorial integrity.