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Middle East and North Africa

Moscow alarmed by worsening situation on the Lebanon-Israel border

The Russian Foreign Ministry urges all parties involved to show restraint

Israeli soldiers guard nea a Lebanese village on the Israeli-Lebanese border EPA/ATEF SAFADI

Israeli soldiers guard nea a Lebanese village on the Israeli-Lebanese border

© EPA/ATEF SAFADI

MOSCOW, December 21./TASS/. Russia urges Lebanon and Israel to exercise patience in connection with the worsening of the situation on the border between the two countries, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Monday.

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Kremlin uncertain whether Israel had warned Russian Defense Ministry of operation in Syria

"Over the past few days we have been witnessing an escalation of tension on the border between Israel and Lebanon," it said. "According to media reports, several rockets were fired from the Lebanese territory on December 20, to which the Israeli army retaliated with artillery fire. No deaths or injuries have been reported," the ministry said.

According to coming reports, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine - General Command, has claimed responsibility for the shelling of Israel, accusing it of air strikes on Jaramala near Damascus a day before, the ministry said.

Moscow sees the developments with major concern, the Foreign Ministry said. "The worsening of the situation, including in the area of the Lebanese-Israeli border, is fraught with a further degradation of the situation in the Middle East on the whole," the ministry noted.

"With this in view, we urge all parties involved in the confrontation to demonstrate restraint," it said. The ministry said a ceasefire should be observed on the Lebanese-Israeli border in line with all international commitments.

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