BAKU. Aug 5 (Interfax) - Azerbaijani servicemen have practiced conducting counterstrikes and "liberating strategically advantageous areas" as part of joint drills with the Turkish military in Baku and Nakhchivan, the press service for the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said on Wednesday.
"At this stage of the exercise, on their way across an area with various terrain features, the units practiced organizing and conducting counterattacks using weapons and armored hardware, carrying out preemptive strikes on mock enemy personnel and military hardware, and liberating strategically advantageous areas and lines," the press service said.
"The units successfully accomplished their tasks, demonstrating their high professionalism," it said.
The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said in late July that Turkish and Azerbaijani troops had launched the first phase of large-scale joint drills hosted by Azerbaijan.
"The first stage of the Azerbaijani-Turkish large-scale joint tactical live-fire exercise is taking place. The situation is being evaluated, combat assignments specified, and area reconnaissance conducted," the Defense Ministry said in a statement on July 30.
The two-week exercise began against the backdrop of rising tensions on Azerbaijan's border with Armenia. Baku has stressed that this is a routine exercise.
The Azerbaijani-Turkish large-scale joint tactical and flight tactical drills of the two countries' Ground Forces and Air Forces involving a live-fire exercise began on July 29 and will continue until August 10. Their program includes August 1-5 maneuvers involving the two countries' Ground Forces in Baku and Nakhchivan and July 29-August 10 Air Force drills in Baku, Nakhchivan, Ganja, Kyurdamir, and Yevlakh.
Azerbaijan and Turkey have contributed their military personnel, armored hardware, artillery systems, mortars, combat aircraft, and air defense systems to the exercise.