<p>The capital of the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region was targeted in heavy strikes by Azerbaijani forces overnight and Wednesday morning, an AFP correspondent said.</p>.<p>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.</p>.<p>The shelling in Stepanakert was the most intensive nighttime bombardment in the city of more than 50,000 people since last weekend, a resident told AFP.</p>.<p>Nearly every hour throughout the night sirens rang out in Stepanakert, which was almost completely dark.</p>.<p>The sirens were followed by a succession of heavy explosions, but it was not immediately clear whether the city had been struck by rockets, missiles or other weapons.</p>.<p>After a two-hour break Wednesday morning, one or more drones could be heard flying over the city at around 10:00 am (0600 GMT), buzzing with the recognizable sound of a lawn mower.</p>.<p>Two medium-intensity explosions were heard -- most likely strikes by the drones -- with one targeting a power station in the city's northeast, AFP journalists said.</p>.<p>A plume of grey smoke rose from the area around the station which was repeatedly struck in recent days.</p>.<p>Armenian forces have sought to shoot down the unpiloted aircraft with automatic weapons and air-defence systems.</p>.<p>At least three houses next to each other were destroyed by a powerful explosion but there were no casualties.</p>.<p>Locals suggested that a Smerch (Tornado) rocket -- a Soviet-designed 300-mm rocket system -- could have been behind the destruction.</p>.<p>Another rocket landed in the garden of a house, leaving a roughly 10-metre crater in the ground. The sole victim appeared to be a dog whose gutted remains were lying nearby.</p>.<p>Over the past few days, Karabakh's separatist authorities have repeatedly denounced the use of Smerch rockets. Some of the unexploded rockets were seen sticking out of the ground.</p>
<p>The capital of the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region was targeted in heavy strikes by Azerbaijani forces overnight and Wednesday morning, an AFP correspondent said.</p>.<p>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.</p>.<p>The shelling in Stepanakert was the most intensive nighttime bombardment in the city of more than 50,000 people since last weekend, a resident told AFP.</p>.<p>Nearly every hour throughout the night sirens rang out in Stepanakert, which was almost completely dark.</p>.<p>The sirens were followed by a succession of heavy explosions, but it was not immediately clear whether the city had been struck by rockets, missiles or other weapons.</p>.<p>After a two-hour break Wednesday morning, one or more drones could be heard flying over the city at around 10:00 am (0600 GMT), buzzing with the recognizable sound of a lawn mower.</p>.<p>Two medium-intensity explosions were heard -- most likely strikes by the drones -- with one targeting a power station in the city's northeast, AFP journalists said.</p>.<p>A plume of grey smoke rose from the area around the station which was repeatedly struck in recent days.</p>.<p>Armenian forces have sought to shoot down the unpiloted aircraft with automatic weapons and air-defence systems.</p>.<p>At least three houses next to each other were destroyed by a powerful explosion but there were no casualties.</p>.<p>Locals suggested that a Smerch (Tornado) rocket -- a Soviet-designed 300-mm rocket system -- could have been behind the destruction.</p>.<p>Another rocket landed in the garden of a house, leaving a roughly 10-metre crater in the ground. The sole victim appeared to be a dog whose gutted remains were lying nearby.</p>.<p>Over the past few days, Karabakh's separatist authorities have repeatedly denounced the use of Smerch rockets. Some of the unexploded rockets were seen sticking out of the ground.</p>