Azerbaijani soldiers were killed and injured in an attack by Armenian forces in the East Zangezur region, said Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry on Tuesday.

"On April 11, Armenian armed forces units, based in Digh settlement of the Gorus region, launched an intense small arms assault at the Azerbaijan Army's positions stationed in the Lachin region," a statement by the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry read.

The statement said that Azerbaijani servicemen were killed and injured as a result of the "provocation," and did not provide a number on casualties.

"The Azerbaijan Army Units engaged in adequate retaliatory measures," it added.

In another statement, the ministry said that the Armenian forces also suffered "a large number of losses" due to the measures taken, adding that further information will be provided to the public soon.

"Currently, there is relative calm in the mentioned direction, operational conditions are under the full control of our units," the statement further noted, adding that three servicemen were killed while preventing the Armenian side's "provocation."

In an earlier statement, the Defense Ministry urged the public to "exercise caution and refer only to official information."

Separately, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said in a statement that such "provocations," in the backdrop of calls from the international community for negotiations on a peace agreement, show Armenia is "not interested in the peace process" and that these are accompanied by "politically provocative actions and statements."

"Armenia's provocations against Azerbaijan, violating the norms and principles of international law, not only violate the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan, but also seriously threaten regional peace and security," the statement said, adding that Azerbaijan will continue to take "all necessary measures."

It also called for Armenia's actions to be "rejected and condemned by the international community in a serious manner."

Relations between the two former Soviet republics of Armenia and Azerbaijan have been tense since 1991 when the Armenian military occupied Karabakh, a territory internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, and seven adjacent regions.

In the fall of 2020, during 44 days of heavy fighting, Azerbaijan liberated a significant part of Karabakh and a Russian-brokered peace agreement was subsequently signed, considered a triumph in Baku.