Armenia abandoned two domestic military positions in the deadliest flare-up between itself and Azerbaijan since last year’s war over the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, Eurasianet reported Nov. 16. Armenian sources reported that at least 15 soldiers were killed and 12 taken prisoner, and the number of Azerbaijani casualties is unclear. Why It Matters: This escalation prompted Armenia to formally appeal to Russia for military assistance under the 1997 bilateral defense treaty, and Russian troops stationed in Armenia were allegedly moved to full combat readiness. The seizure of Armenian land appears to be a long-planned Azerbaijani provocation intended to pressure Armenia into favorable terms as the two nations reportedly finalize long-awaited border and transportation agreements. In combination with Armenia’s already-precarious domestic security situation, Azerbaijan’s strategy may be effective.