WASHINGTON—An Israeli military strategist reported that Israel supplied Azerbaijan with laser anti-tank missiles on March 31, one day before Baku launched a savage attack against all border targets in the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, Voice of America Armenian Service reported.

Alexander Murinson from the Strategic Research Department of the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies within Bar-Ilan University of Israel said Azerbaijan has claims for a new role in the region, and it attempts to clarify its position on the Armenian forces in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Also, he reflected on the sources of Azerbaijan’s purchase of weapons.  “On March 31, Israel supplied laser anti-tank missiles to Azerbaijan,” Murinson noted. “Azerbaijan is the first country to acquire these missiles, and this certainly has given an advantage to its military capabilities.

Even though Israel does not officially support any side in the conflict, it obviously has close ties with Baku.”  Robert Avetisyan, the Permanent Representative of Nagorno-Karabakh to the US, also reflected on the supplying of military equipment to Azerbaijan. He noted that this fact has always been a concern for them, and that they have repeatedly called on all countries not to sell arms to Azerbaijan.  “These recent events [at the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone] have shown that the regional situation is very fragile, and that it can very easily lead to disaster and great tragedy.”