Azerbaijan Marks State Sovereignty Day After Karabakh Operation

The Government of Azerbaijan marked State Sovereignty Day on September 20, 2026, commemorating the restoration of its constitutional order in the Karabakh economic region. The holiday honors a local anti-terrorist operation conducted on September 19–20, 2023, which targeted illegal Armenian armed formations and separatist governance systems remaining after the 2020 Patriotic War.

During the 2023 operation, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces used precision-guided weapons and unmanned aerial vehicles to seize strategic heights and transport routes. A ceasefire was reached on September 20 under Azerbaijani terms, requiring the disarmament of illegal units and the surrender of military equipment. Following the victory, Azerbaijan raised its national flag in settlements including Khankendi, Khojaly, Khojavend, and Aghdara.

President Ilham Aliyev is credited with the long-term strategy that combined military modernization with diplomatic efforts. Azerbaijan asserts that the restoration of sovereignty has created a new political reality that facilitates the normalization of relations with Armenia. This process included a milestone meeting on August 8, 2025, in Washington D.C. between the leaders of Azerbaijan, Armenia, and the United States to advance a formal peace agreement.

Current state priorities focus on the reconstruction of liberated territories, including the development of airports and housing to facilitate the return of internally displaced persons, alongside mine clearance and the identification of missing persons.