MOSCOW. Oct 1 (Interfax) - Russia condemns the Israeli ground operation in Lebanon and calls for the immediate end of hostilities, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.
"Russia strongly condemns the attack on Lebanon and urges the Israeli authorities to immediately stop the hostilities, pull out forces from Lebanese territory, and begin the real search for peaceful ways to settle the Middle East conflict," the statement said.
"Obviously, the step taken by the Israeli military and political leadership after killing a number of Hezbollah leaders will cause further escalation of violence in the Middle East region," it said.
"We stand in solidarity with the leadership and people of friendly Lebanon, which has experienced armed aggression. Our sincere condolences to the families and friends of the deceased," it said.
Israel began the ground operation in Lebanon in the early hours of Tuesday, October 1. The Israeli military said it had begun isolated raids on Lebanese territory aimed at destroying Hezbollah infrastructure in border areas.
On Tuesday, Russia's Special Presidential Representative for the Middle East and Africa and Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov received Lebanese Ambassador Chawki Bou Nassar at his request, the ministry said in a statement on its website later.
"The Russian side has expressed its strong condemnation of Israel's having started a ground invasion of Lebanon, cyber sabotage and strikes at residential quarters, which led to thousands of civilian deaths and injuries, and underscored the unacceptance of the Israeli practice of political assassinations, which undermines the efforts to find a peaceful settlement to the Middle Eastern conflict," the statement said.
"Special attention was given to the issues of providing Lebanon with humanitarian aid and ensuring the safety of the Russian citizens currently inside that country," it said.