UPDATE – Azerbaijan says embassy in Lebanon attacked by people of Armenian origin

UPDATES WITH MORE DETAILS
By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) – Azerbaijan on Thursday said its embassy in Lebanon's capital Beirut was attacked by people of Armenian origin, but there were no injuries.

“About 50 people of Armenian origin ... struck the fence around the administrative building of the embassy and threw bottles containing paint and explosives,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

It added that the Lebanese agency responsible for protecting diplomatic missions was informed of the incident, but the attackers managed to escape before the arrival of law enforcement personnel.

The ministry urged the Lebanese authorities to arrest those involved in the attack, adding that security of the mission was strengthened.

A senior Lebanese security source told Anadolu that an investigation has been launched into the incident.

The Azerbaijani Embassy in Beirut also confirmed that the incident is being investigated by the Internal Security Forces and Army in Lebanon.

According to Azerbaijani media, the country’s public prosecutor spoke to his Lebanese counterpart to discuss the attack and agreed to coordinate together on the issue.

The Azerbaijani prosecutor demanded his Lebanese counterpart to launch an objective investigation into the incident according to international norms, media reports said.

Relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia have been tense since 1991 when the Armenian military occupied Nagorno-Karabakh, a territory internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, and seven adjacent regions.
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In the fall of 2020, Azerbaijan liberated several cities, villages, and settlements from Armenian occupation during 44 days of clashes. The war ended with a Russia-brokered cease-fire, and the two sides are discussing a peace deal since then.

*Ahmed Asmar contributed to this story from Ankara