Rivals Maneuver as a Frozen Conflict Turns Hot

In this image taken from a footage released Sept. 27, Armenian forces destroy an Azerbaijani tank at the contact line of the self-proclaimed Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Source: Armenian Defense Ministry

A forgotten frozen conflict has exploded into renewed fighting, triggering a diplomatic scramble by major powers. Russia and Turkey, in particular, are jostling for position.

The roots of periodic clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region go back decades. Russia first brokered a cease-fire in 1994 and has sought without success together with the U.S. and France to mediate a peace accord.