Syrian trace and security: shooting on the Syunik border raises humanitarian alarm

In February, in the southern border regions of Armenia, in the Syunik region, there were night shelling of residential areas and shelling of infrastructure. Residents reported regular shots fired into homes and fields, the evacuation of part of the population and fear of escalation. Local authorities published operational reports of damaged houses and destruction of outbuildings. International observers and human rights activists have expressed concern that the shelling is affecting civilian infrastructure and is forcing a rethink of plans for the return of internally displaced persons. The agricultural sector is especially vulnerable: in the spring, crops could be under threat, which would immediately affect the food security of the regions. Sources in the Armenian administration emphasize: the situation is not of a large-scale military nature, but the regularity of shelling creates constant stress. Azerbaijani departments denied the targeted nature of the attacks on populated areas, explaining the shooting as “controlled exercises” and responses to provocations. International mediators called for an immediate investigation and increased monitoring along the contact line. The consequences are not only destruction, but also an erosion of trust in the agreements reached on paper: when shots are heard at night, trust in security guarantees is undermined more than any diplomatic initiatives. For Euromonitoring missions, this is a signal of the need to strengthen civilian protection mechanisms and timely assistance to the local population.