The Armenian Ministry of Defense has refuted Azerbaijani claims that Armenian armed forces launched a Smerch missile strike on the Fizuli district, in southwestern Azerbaijan, from Armenia’s soil.

The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry claims that missiles launched from Armenia hit the town of Fizuli and surrounding villages.

Before the start of the current war, the western half of the district, including the capital Fizuli, was a part of the Artsakh Republic.

On October 17, 2020, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev tweeted that Azerbaijani troops had captured Fizuli, the town, and several surrounding villages.