Azerbaijan’s defence ministry says it has begun “anti-terrorist” operations in its breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh, under Armenian control, writes BBC.

Tensions have been high for months surrounding the ethnic Armenian enclave, recognised internationally as part of Azerbaijan. Eleven Azerbaijani police and civilians have been reported killed in a mine blast and another incident.

Air raid sirens have been reported in Karabakh’s main city. The sound of artillery and gunfire could be heard on Tuesday from the Karabakh capital, Khankendi - known by Armenians as Stepanakert.

Armenia’s defence ministry said the claims of Armenian fire did not correspond with reality. It added that as of 14:00 (10:00 GMT), the situation on Armenia’s borders was “relatively stable”.