Today, as fighting escalates between Armenia and Azerbaijan, U.S. Senator and U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Jack Reed issued the following statement:

"Armenians have a right to defend themselves when attacked.  I am deeply concerned about the escalation of heavy fighting between Azerbaijani forces and Armenian troops in Nagorno-Karabakh.

"I urge restraint and steps to prevent further harm to civilians. President Trump must pursue an immediate cessation of hostilities and facilitate a peaceful settlement of the dispute.

"Additionally, all countries in the region should work to defuse this crisis and not seek to inflame tensions."