On Friday, the Russian Foreign Ministry issued a stern warning against a potential large-scale Israeli military operation in Lebanon, urging the avoidance of a scenario that could lead to widespread disaster in the Middle East, EFE reports.
“We are convinced that launching a large-scale military operation in Lebanon would have devastating consequences for the security of the entire Middle East. Such a catastrophic scenario must be avoided,” said Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova during a forum in St. Petersburg, as quoted by TASS.
Zakharova once again called on all parties involved to exercise restraint and halt hostilities immediately. She emphasized that Russia is prepared to work closely with both regional and international partners to de-escalate tensions and stabilize the political and military situation in the Middle East.
Tensions in the region have escalated after the Israeli military confirmed airstrikes targeting a hundred rocket launchers belonging to the Lebanese Shiite militia Hezbollah, some of which were reportedly “ready to fire on Israel.”
Lebanese television station Al Manar, owned by Hezbollah, reported over 50 Israeli airstrikes near the border on Thursday night, while Lebanese news agency ANN confirmed bombings in the Jezzine area, which is further from the border but within the range of previous Israeli attacks.
This marked the second wave of Israeli strikes targeting southern Lebanon on Thursday, following afternoon bombings that hit 30 launchpads and Hezbollah infrastructure.
Regional tensions have surged after two waves of simultaneous explosions on communication devices carried by Hezbollah members killed 37 people and injured nearly 3,000 across Lebanese territory earlier this week.
Moscow had previously condemned the “unprecedented” attacks on Lebanon, describing them as a “grave violation of its sovereignty and a serious challenge to international law due to the use of unconventional weapons.”
