Over the centuries, many bridges have been built across the Araz River, but only two of them, located in the village of Khudafarin of Jabrayil region, have survived to this day. These bridges, 750 meters apart, are located in the Khudafarin gorge, one of the most convenient passages of the riverbed.  So, there are big rocks in the widening riverbed. Those rocks served as a reliable foundation for the bridge arches.
            
Khudafarin bridges are among our magnificent historical monuments, which are considered a jewel in the history of Azerbaijani architectural art. Two bridges built over the Araz River still exist today. Among them, the 11-span bridge called "Bash Khudafarin" (main Khudafarin bridge) is 130 meters long, 6 meters wide, and 12 meters high. The second bridge is 200 meters long, 4.5 meters wide and 10 meters high, with 15 spans.

Although there is a lot of information about these ancient and majestic monuments of architectural art of Azerbaijan in historical sources, there is no unanimous opinion in history about the date of construction of bridges. The main historical conclusion is that the 15-span bridge was built in 1027 by Fazl ibn Muhammad, the ruler of Azerbaijan. The bridge with 11 spans was built or restored in the 13th century during the reign of Elkhans in Azerbaijan.
  
The medieval historian Hamdullah Ghazvini indicates the name of the bridges as "Khuda-Afarin" in his chronicles, which means "created by God", or "salutation to God". According to most researchers, both bridges were named "Khudafarin" because their foundations were built on natural raft stones in the middle of the river.

In the 30s of the 20th century, the coastal arches of the 11-span bridge were destroyed by the joint decision of Iran and the former Soviet state to cut off the connections between the north and south of Azerbaijan. Since then, the local population has given the bridge a second name - Broken Bridge.

The historical facts confirm that located on important caravan routes and being a part of the itineraries of the Great Silk Road, the bridges have played an important role in the economic relations between the East and the West, and later on in the wider area – linking the Caucasus and the Northern territories with Iran, Turkey and the Middle East. The Khudafarin Bridges are one of the most magnificent and famous bridges in the Middle East.

As a result of the occupation of the Jabrayil region by Armenian armed forces in 1993, the bridges of Khudafarin remained in captivity; they fell into disrepair and became unusable. During the 27-year occupation period, the Armenian invaders destroyed the village of Khudafarin, like other areas, turned it into ruins, demolished houses, administrative buildings, and all buildings.

On the 22nd day of the Patriotic War which started on September 27, 2020 - October 18, 2020, the Azerbaijani Army liberated the historic Khudafarin Bridges and Khudafarin village from occupation. After so many years of occupation, the Azerbaijani flag was raised on Khudafarin Bridge.

The Khudafarin Bridge, which has great strategic importance, was also one of the most significant locations in the battles in Karabakh. Thus, the village of Khudafarin, located near the bridge, is one of the last villages of Jabrayil. Zangilan is next, followed by Gubadli region. In this regard, the successful completion of the task of liberating the Khudafarin Bridge was of particular importance. In accordance with the plan of the operation, an advance was carried out into the depth of the enemy position up to 12 km in the direction along the Araz River, an ambush was laid, and the enemy forces, unable to withstand the combat resolve, the professional training of our military personnel, retreated, having suffered serious losses in manpower, we managed to recapture the strategic height located in the area.  The Khudafarin Bridge was liberated, our State Flag was hoisted, and the report was made to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Ilham Aliyev.
   
The liberation of Khudafarin Bridges and Khudafarin village from occupation is considered one of the significant events of the Patriotic War.

Recommended literature:

1. Əfşar, Cahangir Hüseyn. Yeni Qarabağnamə / C. H. Əfşar ; elmi red.: N. Q. Cəfərov [et al.]. - Bakı : Təhsil NPM, 2021. - 320 s.
2. Cəfərli, Tural Vaqif oğlu. "44 gün" zəfərə doğru : döyüşlərin xronologiyası, hərbi əməliyyatlar, Xüsusi Təyinatlı Qüvvələr, 10 noyabr Bəyanatı / T. Cəfərli ; red. V. Əlioğlu. - Bakı : Mücrü, 2022. - 96 s.
3. Piriyev, Heydər. İkinci Qarabağ müharibəsi : hərbi-siyasi təhlil / H. Piriyev, R. Tahirov, X. İskəndərov ; elmi red. E. Q. Həşimov ; red. A. A. Mirzəliyeva ; Silahlı Qüvvələrin Hərbi Akademiyası. - Bakı : Hərbi Nəşriyyat, 2022. - 168 s.
4. Sevdimalıyev, Ramiz. İkinci Qarabağ müharibəsi və yeni geosiyasi reallıqlar / R. Sevdimalıyev, E. Sevdimalıyev ; Azərbaycanda Vətəndaş Cəmiyyətinin İnkişafına Yardım Assosiasiyası. - Bakı : CBS Polygraphic Production, 2022. - 352 s.
5. 44 gün anbaan... : rəsmi xronika / tərt. F. Cəfərli. - II nəşr. - Bakı : TEAS Press, 2022. - 648 s.
6. Ermənistan-Azərbaycan Dağlıq Qarabağ münaqişəsinin həllində Azərbaycanı Zəfərə aparan yol / F. Mirzəyev, C. Vəliyev, E. Cəfərova [et al.] ; ideya müəl. R. Rzayev ; Azərbaycan Respublikasının Qaçqınların və Məcburi Köçkünlərin İşləri üzrə Dövlət Komitəsi, Beynəlxalq Münasibətlərin Təhlili Mərkəzi. - Bakı : Qanun, 2021. - 232 s.
7. Qələndərli, Nurlan. İlham Əliyev - Böyük yolun Müzəffər davamçısı : [60 ilə sığan tarix] / N. Qələndərli ; ön sözün müəl. T. Y. Budaqov ; Yeni Azərbaycan Partiyası. - Bakı : TEAS Press, 2021. - 596 s.
8. Zəfər yolu = The Way to Victory / A. Oqtay, X. Əliyev, N. Qasımova [et al.] ; tərt.-müəl.: İ. Əlili, V. Şahinoğlu ; tərc. X. Qurbanova ; red. E. Dərziyeva ; ön sözün müəl. C. Məmmədov. - Bakı : Ləman Nəşriyyat Poliqrafiya MMC, 2021. - 148 s.
9. Attar, Aygün. Qarabağ zəfəri : 44 gün pərdəarxası / A. Attar ; tərc.: K. Ələkbərova, S. Nağı ; red. E. M. Başkeçid ; Türkiyə-Azərbaycan dostluq, əməkdaşlıq və həmrəylik fondu, Azərbaycan Dövlət Tərcümə Mərkəzi. - Bakı : Azərbaycan Dövlət Tərcümə Mərkəzi, 2021. - 158 s.
10. Mədətli, Eynulla Yadulla oğlu. Heydər Əliyev - İlham Əliyev: azərbaycançılığın zəfər yolu : monoqrafiya / E. Y. Mədətli ; elmi red. İ. R. Məmmədzadə ; AMEA Fəlsəfə və Siyasi-Hüquqi Tədqiqatlar İnstitutu. - Bakı : Turxan NPB, 2021. - 272 s.