The Russian Ministry for Emergency Situations today began the evacuation of its citizens from Lebanon, following the escalation of the conflict with Israel, having chartered a first plane to take 60 people back to Russia.
"Today 60 people will arrive on Russian territory," the ministry said in a statement, specifying that the plane had already taken off from the Lebanese capital, Beirut.
The evacuation, which includes family members of Russian diplomats and officials in Lebanon, was ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Russia condemned Israeli bombings against Lebanese territory and called for restraint by all parties after the launch of around 200 missiles by Iran, an ally of the Kremlin (Russian presidency).
The Israeli army today ordered the evacuation of around 20 cities in southern Lebanon, including Nabatieh, one of the hardest hit by Israeli bombings in recent weeks.
It is the third time that Israeli forces have called for the evacuation of towns in southern Lebanon, after announcing on Monday the deployment of troops to the border to carry out a series of "limited raids" against the pro-Iranian Shi'ite group Hezbollah in Lebanese territory.
The intense bombings have already caused almost 2,000 deaths and displaced a million people, according to Lebanese authorities.
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