On the anniversary of the 1997 "Khojavend Operation," a visit was organized to the area where seven soldiers were martyred, and the memory of the martyrs was commemorated, APA's correspondent in Karabakh reports.
The visit, organized by the Organization for War, Labor and Armed Forces Veterans' of the Republic of Azerbaijan, included martyr families, veterans, and disabled veterans.
The memorial corner dedicated to the martyrs of the Khojavend operation was visited in the territory of the Yukhari Guzlek village. The State Anthem was played by a military orchestra, and the martyrs' memory was honored. Speakers talked about the honorable combat paths of the soldiers.
It was reported that on April 7, 1997, two reconnaissance groups were sent to the Khojavend district under the command of the Ministry of Defense's Intelligence Directorate of the Republic of Azerbaijan to perform a special mission.
The objective of the mission was to identify the locations of the Armenian forces in the Khojavend district, gather information about enemy manpower and military equipment, and investigate the fortification-engineering state of their military echelon.
The first group completed the mission and returned without casualties. The second group, which included Lieutenant Elkhan Aghayev (group commander), Lieutenant Vugar Yarahmadov, and soldiers Anar Rzayev, Dinar Musatafayev, and Agil Ahmadov, crossed the contact line from the Fuzuli district's Horadiz direction, traveling approximately 40-50 kilometers to complete their combat mission.
However, on the third day of the operation, while returning, they were detected by the enemy in the Yukhari Guzlek village area of the Fuzuli district.
The Armenians encircled the reconnaissance group and demanded their surrender. After the scouts refused to surrender, intense fighting broke out.
Sergeant Agil Ahmadov was severely wounded and fell unconscious, with his comrades assuming he was martyred. The remaining seven members of the group continued to fight.
As they ran out of ammunition, they blew themselves up with hand grenades to prevent falling into enemy hands.
Sergeant Agil Ahmadov, who was unconscious, was captured by the Armenians.
The bodies of the martyred soldiers were only retrieved from the Armenians six months later and were buried in the Second Martyrs' Alley in Baku.
Each of them was awarded the "Azerbaijan Flag" order by the decree of the President of Azerbaijan, Heydar Aliyev.
Agil, who was captured by the Armenians, was put on trial in February 1998 and sentenced to death.
All necessary measures were taken by the Azerbaijani government to secure Agil’s release. After prolonged negotiations, in March 1999, with the help of President Heydar Aliyev, Aqil was exchanged for one Armenian prisoner and two dead bodies and was returned to Azerbaijan.
Additionally, during speeches, it was emphasized that the liberation of Azerbaijani lands, thanks to the brilliant victory of the Azerbaijani Army under the leadership of Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev, was discussed.
It was highlighted that Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and sovereignty have been fully restored. Life has returned to the liberated territories, and former IDPs have reunited with their homeland.
After the Azerbaijani Army liberated lands in the Patriotic War, a fountain was built at the site where the Khojavend operation martyrs fell, and a symbolic corner was created in their memory.
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