The capital of the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region was targeted in heavy strikes by Azerbaijani forces overnight and Wednesday morning, an AFP correspondent said.
Heavy fighting between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces broke out over the disputed region more than a week ago and both sides have accused the other of targeting civilian areas.
The Hindu Explains | What’s behind the Armenia-Azerbaijan clashes?
The shelling in Stepanakert was the most intensive night-time bombardment in the city of more than 50,000 people.
France on Wednesday accused Turkey of “military involvement” on the side of Azerbaijan, the latest volley in a war of words between Paris and Ankara.
“The new aspect is that there is military involvement by Turkey, which risks fuelling the internationalisation of the conflict,” French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told Parliament.
Turkey has been accused of deploying fighters from Syria to support Azerbaijan in the fighting.
