Moscow, September 28, 2024 – The Europe Today: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has condemned Israel’s recent airstrikes in Lebanon, warning that such actions could ignite a larger conflict in the Middle East. Speaking at a UN Security Council meeting on Friday, Lavrov stated that Moscow “resolutely condemns” the Israeli attacks and called for de-escalation to prevent further violence.
Lavrov’s comments came after the Israel Defense Forces launched a significant airstrike on the southern suburbs of Beirut, targeting what West Jerusalem described as Hezbollah’s main headquarters. Israel claimed that the attack had killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, though media reports suggested he had survived.
“Indiscriminate attacks that lead to civilian casualties are absolutely unacceptable,” Lavrov stated, adding that Israel’s actions “blatantly violate the sovereignty of Lebanon.” He warned that Israel would not be able to achieve its objectives through military strikes, recalling Israel’s unsuccessful efforts during the 2006 Lebanon war.
According to Lavrov, Israeli bombings have already claimed the lives of at least 558 people in Lebanon, including 50 children and 94 women, with over 1,600 others injured. Tens of thousands of civilians have been displaced by the ongoing conflict.
The Russian foreign minister urged an immediate halt to the “spiral of violence” and expressed concerns that the region is “once again on the brink of a big war.” He confirmed that Moscow is pursuing “active diplomatic efforts” to de-escalate the situation and avert a catastrophic outcome.
The escalation follows a year of sporadic clashes between Israel and Hezbollah, which has supported the Palestinian cause amid Israel’s military operations against Hamas. The latest Israeli campaign has focused on Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon, resulting in significant casualties, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry.
