MOSCOW: Syria, Iraq and Lebanon Facing Common Danger of Spreading International Terrorism

MOSCOW–The Russian Foreign Ministry has called on the international community to carefully monitor the “dangerous tendency” in Lebanon, as well as in Syria and Iraq.

“We urge partners in the international community to carefully and objectively access the extremely dangerous tendency that we clearly observe in Syria, Iraq and Lebanon,” the ministry said, adding that in the past few days the situation in Arsal, northeast of Lebanon’s Beirut, has deteriorated

Gunmen from the terrorist group Jabhat al-Nusra and the so-called Islamic State in Iraq and Levant (ISIL) on August 2 attacked Arsal and located along the border with Syria targeting the Lebanese Army’s checkpoints. More than 10 Lebanese servicemen have been martyred, with hundreds of Lebanese security troops and civilians taken hostage by terrorists, according to media reports.

“It is essential to abandon the double standard practice and refrain from steps leading not to containment but in opposite, to boosting terrorist and extremist threat in the turbulent Middle East region,” the statement reads.

The ministry further added: “Authorities in Damascus, Baghdad and Beirut are facing a common danger of the spreading international terrorism that does not acknowledge interstate borders and seeks to gain control over new territories.”

Following the attacks by violent extremist groups in Arsal, the UN Security Council expressed support for the efforts of the Lebanese Armed Forces and the Internal Security Forces in their fight against terrorism and in preventing attempts to undermine the stability of Lebanon.

The local government estimates that at least 3,000 families from Arsal have been displaced so far.

The Security Council stressed “the need to further efforts to build up the capabilities of the Lebanese security forces to counter terrorism and address other security challenges.”

Moscow Welcomes Gaza Truce

The Russian Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday that Moscow has welcomed a ceasefire in the Gaza strip.

 A 72-hour humanitarian ceasefire, reached by Palestinian formations and “Israel” with Egypt’s mediation, came into force in the Gaza strip at 8.00 am local time on August 5, the foreign ministry noted, according to Itar Tass.

“Moscow has welcomed the ceasefire and calls on the warring sides to strictly observe the agreement so as in the framework of a corresponding initiative, suggested by Egypt, to create a possibility for lasting truce,” the foreign ministry said.

“We proceed from the assumption that a reliable, long-term settlement of the Gaza problem is impossible without mutual understanding, which would rule out repeated use of force in future. We are confident that the stabilization of the situation would promote the resumption of the Israeli-Palestinian talks on matters of a final status of the Palestinian territories to be established on an international legal basis,” the foreign ministry said.

H. Mustafa