Azerbaijan's Defence Ministry says Armenian forces have attempted to retake freed ground by launching counterattacks but failed.<br /><br />Azerbaijani and Armenian forces have deployed heavy artillery in the latest fighting over the occupied Karabakh region as the overall confirmed death toll nears 100 – mostly Armenian soldiers – since violence broke out over the weekend.<br /><br />Azerbaijan's Defence Ministry said on Tuesday that Armenian forces attempted to recover lost ground by launching counterattacks in the directions of Fuzuli, Jabrayil, Aghdara and Tartar, but failed.<br /><br />The ministry said in a statement there was fighting around Fuzuli city with Armenian troops shelling the Dashkesan region on the border between the two countries, miles away from occupied Karabakh.<br /><br />Armenia denied the shelling, but reported fighting throughout the night and said its forces repelled attacks in several directions along the line of contact.<br /><br />Residential areas in Azerbaijan's Tartar area, few kilometres from the frontline, were shelled by Armenian forces,<br /><br />"Locals told us three people have died as a result of missiles landing," he said. Azerbaijan has lost at least 12 civilians in Armenian shelling since Sunday.<br /><br />Turkey and Azerbaijan both denied Armenia's claim that a Turkish F-16 fighter jet shot down an Armenian warplane on Tuesday.<br /><br />Armenian Defence Ministry spokesperson Shushan Stepanyan said the Armenian SU-25 warplane was downed – and its pilot killed – during clashes.<br /><br />(Turkey denies shooting down Armenian warplane)<br /><br />Turkish Communications Director Fahrettin Altun called the claim "absolutely untrue".<br /><br />"Armenia should withdraw from the territories under its occupation instead of resorting to cheap propaganda tricks," Altun said.<br /><br />Azerbaijan Defence Ministry spokesman Vagif Dyargahly also called the claim "yet another lie of Armenian propaganda".<br /><br />Turkey supports Azerbaijan in the conflict, with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan urging Armenia to withdraw immediately from the separatist region.<br /><br />Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Turkey is "by Azerbaijan’s side on the field and at the (negotiating) table."
