Azerbaijani Troops Enter Disputed Territory Handed Over By Armenia

The Azerbaijani military has entered Aghdam, the first of a cluster of districts around the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh to be ceded to the country in its recent cease-fire with Armenia. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev announced the troops' entry in a celebratory address to the country Friday.

"These days we write the new, glorious history of our people and our country. This is a historic victory," Aliyev said in a series of English-language statements posted to Twitter. "From now on, we will move down the development path much faster."

Azerbaijan's ministry of defense confirmed that "units of the Azerbaijan Army" had crossed into Aghdam on Friday under the terms of a peace deal brokered by Russia.

The agreement, signed by Azerbaijan and Armenia after more than six weeks of renewed bloodshed — and several failed truces — stipulates that Armenia hand over three disputed districts: Aghdam, Lachin and Kelbajar. Azerbaijani forces are expected to enter the others within two weeks.