RUSSIA DENOUNCES NASRALLAH ASSASSINATION, HOLDS ISRAEL RESPONSIBLE FOR ESCALATION

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RUSSIA DENOUNCES NASRALLAH ASSASSINATION, HOLDS ISRAEL RESPONSIBLE FOR ESCALATION

Moscow strongly condemns the assassination of Hassan Nasrallah, the Secretary-General of the Lebanese Hezbollah movement, warning that it may have serious consequences for Lebanon and the entire Middle East. Russia calls on Israel to cease fire, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

”We strongly condemn yet another political assassination committed by Israel,” the statement said. “This act of force is fraught with further dramatic consequences for Lebanon and the entire Middle East. Israel could not have been unaware of the danger but proceeded with this step – the killing of Lebanese citizens, which will almost inevitably provoke a new wave of violence.”

“Therefore, the full responsibility for the subsequent escalation lies with them,” it added.

The Foreign Ministry called on Israel to cease fire in light of Nasrallah’s assassination.

“We once again urgently call on Israel to immediately cease hostilities. This would stop the bloodshed and create conditions for a political-diplomatic settlement,” the statement argued. “In the current explosive situation, responsible members of the international community must do everything in their power to prevent the region from descending into a full-scale armed confrontation.”