Dramatic consequences: Russia flays Israel’s action

Russia strongly condemned Israel’s killing of Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah in the Lebanese capital Beirut, the foreign ministry said on Saturday, calling it “yet another political assassination”.

“This forceful action is fraught with even greater dramatic consequences for Lebanon and the entire Middle East,” the foreign ministry said in a statement.

“The Israeli side could not fail to recognise this danger, but took the step of killing Lebanese citizens, which would almost inevitably provoke a new outburst of violence. Thus, it bears full responsibility for the subsequent escalation,” it added.

In its statement, the Russian foreign ministry called on Israel to immediately stop its hostilities in Lebanon.