Fighting on the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan has killed about 100 troops as attacks on both sides fed fears of broader hostilities breaking out between the longtime adversaries, writes The Guardian.

Armenia said at least 49 of its soldiers were killed, Azerbaijan said it lost 50.

The escalation of decades-old bloodshed between the south Caucasus countries has fuelled fears that a second fully-fledged war could break out in the post-Soviet world in addition to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Armenia said several towns near the border with Azerbaijan, including Jermuk, Goris and Kapan, were shelled in the early hours of Tuesday, and that it had responded to what it called a “large-scale provocation” by Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan’s foreign ministry in turn said it was responding to a “large-scale provocation” by Armenian troops who it accused of planting mines and firing on Azerbaijani military positions.