Newsletters
Russia called on Israel on Thursday to immediately halt military operations in Lebanon and withdraw its forces from Lebanese territory, with Moscow framing the demand around a long-dormant UN Security Council resolution and offering to help broker a diplomatic settlement.
Speaking at a press briefing on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said a ceasefire and troop withdrawal would "create conditions for launching a political and diplomatic settlement process" under UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which established the framework for ending the 2006 Lebanon war and defined the obligations of both Israel and Lebanon regarding southern Lebanon's security architecture.
Zakharova reaffirmed Russia's backing for Lebanon's sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity, and said Moscow was prepared to work with regional and international partners toward what she described as "sustainable and long-term normalization" of the situation in Lebanon and across the broader Middle East.
The statement positions Russia as an active diplomatic voice in the Lebanon file at a moment when fighting continues to exact a heavy toll on Lebanese civilians. Lebanese officials say more than 3,500 people have been killed and over 10,000 injured in Israeli attacks across the country since March 2.
Israel currently occupies areas of southern Lebanon, including some positions held for decades and others seized during the 2023-2024 conflict, during which Israeli forces advanced more than 10 kilometers into Lebanese territory, their deepest incursion since 2000.
Resolution 1701, adopted unanimously by the UN Security Council in August 2006, called for the full cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, the disarmament of non-state armed groups in southern Lebanon, and the deployment of the Lebanese army alongside an expanded UN Interim Force in Lebanon.
The resolution has been repeatedly cited by international actors but has faced persistent implementation challenges on both sides.
Russia's renewed push on Lebanon follows a pattern of Moscow seeking to maintain influence across Middle East conflict zones. Zakharova's remarks at SPIEF, one of Russia's flagship economic and political forums, signal that the Kremlin intends to keep Lebanon on its diplomatic agenda alongside its other regional engagements.
Set as preferred source
Set as preferred source
1 min read
1 min read
