Türkiye Says Israel’s Ground Offensive into Lebanon Is Illegal, Kremlin Voices Concern

An Israeli attack helicopter fires towards Lebanon, amid cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel, as seen from northern Israel, October 1, 2024. (Reuters)
An Israeli attack helicopter fires towards Lebanon, amid cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel, as seen from northern Israel, October 1, 2024. (Reuters)
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Türkiye Says Israel’s Ground Offensive into Lebanon Is Illegal, Kremlin Voices Concern

An Israeli attack helicopter fires towards Lebanon, amid cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel, as seen from northern Israel, October 1, 2024. (Reuters)
An Israeli attack helicopter fires towards Lebanon, amid cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel, as seen from northern Israel, October 1, 2024. (Reuters)

Türkiye’s foreign ministry said on Tuesday that Israel's ground offensive into Lebanon was an illegal attempt at occupation that violated Lebanese territorial integrity, and added the operation must immediately end with Israel withdrawing from Lebanon.

Israeli paratroopers, commandos and armored units launched raids at the start of a ground incursion into south Lebanon, as intense fighting erupted with Hezbollah fighters on Tuesday.

In a statement, the foreign ministry said Israel's offensive targeted regional countries' security and stability as well, and added it was "highly likely" that a new migrant wave will emerge from the fighting.

It called on the UN Security Council to "do what is necessary" in line with international law.

The Kremlin said on Tuesday it was deeply concerned about Israel's military activity in Lebanon and a reported strike on the Syrian capital, Damascus.

Syrian state media said on Tuesday morning that three civilians had been killed and nine others injured in an Israeli airstrike on Damascus.

"We are witnessing together that the geography of hostilities is expanding, which is further destabilizing the region and increasing tensions. These tensions are destructive to the region and the surrounding areas. We remain deeply concerned," Peskov said.

He added that Moscow was in constant contact with Damascus.

"We see no immediate risks at the moment, but of course we condemn such strikes against a sovereign state," said Peskov.

Poland will limit the number of staff at its embassy in Beirut, a foreign ministry spokesperson said on Tuesday, adding that Warsaw would organize transport for Polish citizens who want to leave Lebanon.

"The decision was made to limit the staff at our embassy in Beirut," spokesperson Pawel Wronski told reporters. "Mainly these are the families of diplomats. We will try to keep the essential people, and those who are not essential will return to the country (Poland)" 



Iraq Sends Delegation to Damascus to Study Restoring Oil Pipeline Via Syria

A worker walks at the Rumaila oil field in Basra, Iraq (Reuters file photo)
A worker walks at the Rumaila oil field in Basra, Iraq (Reuters file photo)
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Iraq Sends Delegation to Damascus to Study Restoring Oil Pipeline Via Syria

A worker walks at the Rumaila oil field in Basra, Iraq (Reuters file photo)
A worker walks at the Rumaila oil field in Basra, Iraq (Reuters file photo)

Iraq sent a delegation to Damascus on Friday to study the possibility of restoring an Iraqi oil pipeline that transports oil through Syria to Mediterranean ports, the prime minister's office said. The Iraqi delegation, led by the head of the National Intelligence Service, is also set to discuss counter-terrorism cooperation, border security and ways to expand trade between the two countries, the office added. Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani held talks with Syria’s President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Qatar this month, marking their first meeting since the ousting of former President Bashar al-Assad in December after more than 13 years of civil war, Reuters said. Syria is facing a severe energy crisis after the collapse of its oil industry during civil war and is now turning to local intermediaries for oil imports. Its efforts to secure oil through public tenders have been largely unsuccessful owing to international sanctions and financial risks.