Moscow has strongly condemned Israel's large-scale military attacks on Lebanon, according to a statement by Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.
Zakharova expressed deep concern over the sharp escalation in Lebanon. “On September 23, the Israeli leadership announced the launch of an offensive operation by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), called 'Northern Arrows,' with the declared goal of undermining Hezbollah's military infrastructure. The Israeli Air Force began conducting massive airstrikes across Lebanon, targeting dozens of towns in the south and east of the country. In response, Hezbollah intensified its rocket attacks on military sites in Israel,” she said.
“We strongly condemn Israel's large-scale military assaults on Lebanon. We would like to particularly stress our firm position that indiscriminate attacks, which result in civilian casualties, are categorically unacceptable,” Zakharova emphasized.
Call for De-escalation
Zakharova highlighted the urgent need to halt the escalating violence before the situation spirals out of control. “We call for an immediate cessation of hostilities to prevent further bloodshed and create conditions for shifting the situation towards political and diplomatic resolution,” she said. “All efforts must be made to prevent the Middle East from descending into a full-scale armed conflict, the destructive consequences of which will inevitably affect everyone, both in the region and beyond.”
The diplomat added that Russia is ready “to coordinate with international and regional partners to prevent such a catastrophic scenario.” She further stated, “We believe that the security of any state in the region should not come at the expense of others.”
Travel Advisory
Zakharova also reminded Russian citizens of the current travel advisories recommending they avoid trips to Lebanon. “We remind Russian citizens of the existing recommendations to refrain from traveling to Lebanon. Those currently in the country should exercise extreme caution and follow local authorities' safety instructions,” she stressed. “Those wishing to leave Lebanon can use commercial flights through Beirut International Airport, which remains operational.”
Earlier, Israeli Defense Forces spokesperson Daniel Hagari reported that the Israeli Air Force had struck 1,300 Hezbollah military targets across Lebanon in a single day. According to Lebanon's Ministry of Health, more than 490 people have been killed, and over 1,600 wounded as a result of Israeli air raids.
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Photo: Maxim Kazachkov\Pixabay
Based on TASS materials