Russia Strongly Condemns Israeli Aggression in Lebanon, Demands Immediate Withdrawal of Troops

New York. Russian Permanent Representative to the UN Vassily Nebenzia has stated that the situation in Lebanon deserves the closest attention of the international community and has strongly condemned Israeli aggressive actions, reaffirming Russia’s firm commitment to Lebanon’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence.

Addressing a UN Security Council meeting on June 1, Nebenzia said that the ceasefire reached on April 17 between West Jerusalem and Beirut through Washington’s mediation has turned out to be a “smokescreen” for creeping aggression against Lebanon. “While the whole world was awaiting the next round of talks, scheduled for June 2 in the US capital, the Israelis continued to methodically expand the zone of occupation, razing entire settlements to the ground as part of a ‘scorched earth’ tactic,” he stated.

Nebenzia noted that it is becoming increasingly clear that the Gaza Strip “cleansing” scenario is being almost fully replicated in Lebanon, with large-scale occupation control being established and the local population forcibly displaced. “We strongly condemn Israel’s aggressive actions and reaffirm our firm commitment to Lebanon’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence. We demand the immediate withdrawal of Israeli troops from Lebanese lands, without which a genuine ceasefire cannot be achieved,” he said.

The Russian envoy stated that the deterioration of the situation in Lebanon is a direct consequence of the unjustified aggression by the US and Israel against Iran. Accordingly, the dynamics of the ongoing Iran-US talks largely depend on developments in the Lebanese theatre of operations, he noted. In this context, he said that Russia fully supports international mediation efforts, above all those of friendly Pakistan, and advocates a comprehensive political and diplomatic solution aimed at stabilising the overall situation in the Middle East.

Nebenzia expressed full support for the mandate of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), whose peacekeepers continue to bravely perform their duty in extremely difficult circumstances. “We demand that the safety and security of the Blue Helmets be strictly ensured, and that those responsible for killing and wounding peacekeepers be held accountable,” he said. In light of the planned expiration of UNIFIL’s mandate at the end of the year and the beginning of the mission’s withdrawal, he considered it necessary to preserve a meaningful UN presence along the Blue Line, without which it will be impossible to monitor the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701. As a responsible member of the Security Council, Russia stands ready to take constructive part in future discussions on this matter with a view to finding a mutually acceptable solution, he added.