MOSCOW, November 13. /TASS/. Moscow strongly condemns the atrocious terrorist act in Beirut, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Friday.
"Suicide bombers staged a double terror act in a crowded place in Beirut’s southern suburb Bourj al-Barajneh in the evening of November 12. According to Lebanese media reports, the death toll of these attacks has risen to 43 and is growing. As many as 239 people have been wounded," the statement says. "The Islamic State (IS) group (outlawed in Russia) has claimed responsibility for this bloody crime; IS motivated its act by revenge on the ‘Shia heretics’."
Russia "expresses sincere condolences to the families of the killed and wishes a speedy recovery to the injured." "We are indignant at the vile terrorist attack against civilians in the Lebanese capital and strongly condemn another barbaric crime of extremists in the land of long-suffering Lebanon," the ministry said. "The perpetrators and masterminds of this crime should be punished. This is another bloody attempt to disrupt civil peace and stir up interethnic discord in this friendly to Russia country."
Moscow calls on all the forces concerned to unite in a common front against the Islamic State terrorist group on a universal counter-terrorism international legal basis, the Foreign Ministry said. "Once again we urge all forces in the Middle East and beyond, which are interested in the eradication of IS and other similar criminal organisations, to unite in a common counter-terrorism front on the universal international legal basis, in order to defeat the terrorists as soon as possible and bring stability to the Middle East region," the ministry said.
Earlier on Friday, Russian president Vladimir Putin sent a telegram of condolences to the speaker of the Lebanese parliament, Nabih Berri, in connection with casualties as a result of the suicide bombing in a Beirut suburb, the Kremlin press service reported. Putin expressed the hope that the masterminds and perpetrators of this crime will get the punishment they deserve, adding that Russia is ready to most closely interact with the Lebanese authorities in the fight against terrorism, in particular, against the Islamic State extremist group. The Russian president conveyed the words of condolences and support to the families of those killed in the attack, as well as wished the injured a speedy recovery.
Suicide bombing in Beirut
Thursday's double suicide bombing in Beirut left at least 43 people dead. The explosions occurred in Burj al-Barajneh, a predominantly Shia neighborhood of southern Beirut .
Extremists from the Islamic State radical Sunni group chose the Ain-al-Sikka shopping district as the site for the attack. Their target was the Imam al-Hussein Mosque. The first suicide bomber attempted to break through to it on a motorcycle. However, activist of the Hezbollah Shiite movement Adil Turmus stood in his way at the cost of his own life. He thus saved dozens of lives. There are many Hezbollah supporters in the densely populated Shiite areas.
Hezbollah volunteers are fighting in Syria helping the army and the militias to counter the armed gangs. Therefore, many people here believe that the terrorist attacks in Beirut are linked to the situation on the frontlines in the neighboring country. Over the past 48 hours, the government troops there have achieved important successes south and east of Aleppo. An important contribution to these victories has been made by the Hezbollah units.
Russia's military operation against Islamic State terrorists
The Russian military started an operation against militants of the Islamic State and Jabhat al-Nusra terrorist groups (outlawed in Russia) in Syria on September 30 at the request of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
The Russian aviation grouping comprises more than 50 aircraft and helicopters, including the Sukhoi Su-34 and Su-24M bombers, Su-25 attack aircraft, Su-30SM fighters and Mil Mi-8 and Mi-24 helicopters.
Besides, overnight to October 7, the Caspian Flotilla ships delivered a massive strike on the IS objectives in Syria, using Kalibr NK shipborne cruise missiles.
The Russian authorities have said on many occasions that Russia’s military forces would not take part in any ground operation in Syria.