Azerbaijan is marking Gubadli City Day on October 25, commemorating the liberation of the city and surrounding villages from Armenian occupation in 2020. Gubadli was liberated six years ago, on the 29th day of the Patriotic War. On the same day, President and Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev announced the liberation of several villages in the Zangilan, Jabrayil and Gubadli districts, as well as Gubadli city, in a post on his Twitter account.
"Today, the Azerbaijani Army has liberated several villages in the Zangilan, Jabrayil and Gubadli districts, as well as Gubadli city, from the occupiers. Long live the Azerbaijani Army! Karabakh is Azerbaijan!" the president wrote.
On December 23, 2020, Aliyev raised the Azerbaijani flag in Gubadli. Under a presidential decree signed on July 31, 2023, October 25 was officially designated Gubadli City Day. The president also established the "For the Liberation of Gubadli" medal to recognize military personnel who demonstrated bravery and courage during operations to liberate the district.
The liberation of Jabrayil and Zangilan districts played a crucial role in opening the way to Gubadli, a mountainous area on the western edge of Eastern Zangazur. Military successes in these neighboring districts enabled Azerbaijani forces to advance toward Gubadli's administrative boundaries. Units advancing from Jabrayil crossed ravines in the Yazı Plain area, captured 21 enemy trenches and moved toward Gubadli city.
Other units advanced from the Zangilan direction, liberating several settlements. On October 23, 2020, the villages of Alagurshag, Kurd Mahruzlu, Mughanli and Zilanli came under the control of the Azerbaijani Army. Two days later, Gubadli city and the villages of Chaytumas, Afandilar, Mollaburhan, Padar, Sariyatag, Yusifbayli and Khanlig were liberated.
One of the fiercest battles took place for the strategically important heights of the Yazı Plain. Colonel Shukur Hamidov, who was awarded the title of National Hero of Azerbaijan, was killed during the fighting to liberate these positions. The operation also enabled Azerbaijani forces to establish control over the Gorus-Kapan road and key routes toward the Lachin Corridor, which was then in use.
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