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Middle East conflict

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Russian Emergencies Ministry aircraft evacuates 60 citizens from Beirut

Family members of the Russian Embassy staff, namely children and women, including those in their last terms, boarded the Il-76 airplane after it unloaded humanitarian aid

BEIRUT, October 3. /TASS/. A special airplane of the Emergencies Ministry evacuated 60 Russians, including family members of diplomatic workers serving in Lebanon, from Beirut, a TASS correspondent reports.

Family members of the Russian Embassy staff, namely children and women, including those in their last terms, boarded the Il-76 airplane after it unloaded humanitarian aid. During the flight, psychologists and doctors of the Emergencies Ministry will accompany them.

The press service of the Russian Emergencies Ministry told TASS that the evacuation is being organized in accordance with the order of Russian President Vladimir Putin and under the instructions of Emergencies Ministry head Alexander Kurenkov. The plane is set to arrive in Moscow today.

Besides, the plane delivered 33 tons of humanitarian aid, including food, medicines, and 80 kW power plants, to Beirut.

On September 23, Israel launched an operation codenamed Northern Arrows against the Shiite organization Hezbollah and massive airstrikes on its military facilities. One of the strikes killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrullah in Beirut on September 27. The Shiite organization confirmed his death and vowed to continue confronting Israel. In the early hours of October 1, the Israeli army announced a limited ground operation in border areas in southern Lebanon.

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