In March 1920, during the Nowruz holiday, Armenians initiated large-scale military operations on various fronts, including Beyuk Vedi, Nakhchivan, Ordubad, Karabakh, and Zangezur, as part of a well-planned strategy. To divert the attention of the Azerbaijani army, engaged in operations alongside insurgent forces in Karabakh, additional troops were deployed from Yerevan to Zangezur. Multiple attacks were launched on Muslim villages. In an attempt to enter the Shusha district, a group of 400 Armenians launched an attack from Gerenzur, targeting the Azerbaijani-populated village of Malkhalaf. However, they were compelled to retreat after sustaining significant losses.