MOSCOW, April 27 /TASS/. Russia is watching the confrontation between the Lebanese army and militants from the Islamic State and Jebhat al-Nusra terrorist groups with anxiety and concern, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Wednesday.

"We are anxiously watching the confrontation between the Lebanese army and militants from the Islamic State and Jebhat al-Nusra terrorist groups [both banned in Russia] near the border with Syria and in the northern part of the Beqaa Valley," Shoigu said at a meeting with his Lebanese counterpart Samir Mokbel.

He voiced support for the government and people of Lebanon who are fighting terrorism and extremism. "We understand that Lebanon is going through hard times. Your country is facing a tough terrorist challenge; socio-economic upheavals and migration problems," the Russian defense minister stressed.

The Lebanese defense minister said that the situation in the region was aggravating more and more.