Such was the case in late December and early January, when Azerbaijani troops maneuvered against Armenian forces in northern Tavush province. But because these skirmishes are not a direct component of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, they are rarely tracked closely by monitoring organizations.

The Azerbaijani military has alleged that it has re-established control over its outpost on the Odundagh Mountain — a claim that reports coming out of the region seem to verify. Though it is unclear why Azerbaijan initially abandoned the position, Armenia was actively interrupting supply lines throughout Qazakh district at the time, possibly forcing Azerbaijani troops to retreat. Several reports indicate that Azerbaijan's military is rebuilding structures and fortifying the site, moves that are key to monitoring and controlling the areas surrounding the mountain. In particular, the outpost provides a good vantage point over Armenia's crucial H26/M1 highway.

Though small, this strategic position could make a difference elsewhere in the Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict. Distracting Armenian military forces while relieving its own forces elsewhere will help the Azerbaijani military control the country's northern border. Russia has also recently shown interest in ensuring that negotiations on the territorial handoff of regions surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh progress. These factors could be motivating Azerbaijan to try to gain the upper hand before talks with Armenia get underway.

 

(Startfor)