Armenia and Azerbaijan, the two warring South Caucasus countries, have accused each other of firing around the disputed enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh in a clash that has resulted in casualties on both sides.

The defense ministries of both countries issued statements this afternoon saying an unspecified number of soldiers from their armed forces were killed in a clash near the so-called “Lachin Corridor”.

Since December, the road connecting Armenia with Nagorno-Karabakh, the “Latchin Corridor,” has been blocked by Azeri activists who say they are protesting illegal mining in the region. But Yerevan maintains that the blockade has been ordered by the Azerbaijani authorities and is causing an acute humanitarian crisis in the separatist regions as they are drip-fed. Baku denies those claims, says essential supplies can enter the region and has defended protesters’ right to mobilize with legitimate environmental concerns.

These two South Caucasus countries – both former Soviet republics – have fought each other numerous times over the past 35 years over control of the enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh, which is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan but is home to a majority Armenian population.

In a statement, the Armenian Defense Ministry said that Azeri military forces opened fire at around 16:00 (local time, 15:00 Greece time) against Armenian soldiers who were doing technical work near the village of Tekh in Armenia’s southern Sunik province.

Tekh is not in the disputed territory, but is the last village in Armenian territory on this main road route connecting Armenia with Nagorno-Karabakh.

Azerbaijan’s defense ministry said Azeri soldiers came under a “rain of fire” from Armenian soldiers stationed in Sunik province.

Both sides reported casualties among their ranks, but did not give details.

The last confrontation between the two rivals was over control of the Lachine Corridor.

Russia sent a peacekeeping force of thousands of troops to the region in 2020 as part of a deal to end weeks of fighting that has killed thousands of people. Azerbaijan emerged victorious from this war with significant territorial gains. Moscow is an ally of Armenia through a mutual self-defense pact, but tries to maintain good relations with Baku as well.