2020 Barda missile attacks

Significance

The Barda missile attacks marked a significant escalation in the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War through the deliberate or indiscriminate targeting of civilian population centers. Three air attacks struck the city of Barda and the nearby villages of Əyricə and Qarayusifli in the same district, killing 27 civilians. The use of BM-30 Smerch missiles with cluster warheads against populated areas drew international attention to the humanitarian dimension of the conflict and raised questions about proportionality and the conduct of hostilities. Within the broader war, the attacks underscored that urban and civilian areas behind the immediate front lines were not insulated from the fighting.