[Russia] - Russia Condemns Lebanon Pager Blasts, Warns of Worsening Tensions

INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
region.Hezbollah and the Lebanese government blamed Israel for the attack, which analysts said was likely caused by explosives concealed in
the devices during production or delivery
There was no immediate comment from Israel."What has happened, whatever it is, is certainly leading to an escalation of tensions," Kremlin
spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters
"The region itself is in an explosive situation..
And every incident like this has the potential to be a trigger."Russia's Foreign Ministry also denounced the blasts in an earlier
statement."We strongly condemn the unprecedented attack on friendly Lebanon and its citizens, which constitutes a flagrant violation of its
sovereignty and a serious challenge to international law through the use of unconventional weapons," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria
Zakharova said."Amid growing tension along the Lebanese-Israeli border, such irresponsible actions are fraught with extremely dangerous
consequences, as they provoke a new round of escalation," Zakharova added, calling for "all parties involved to exercise restraint."Russia
has close relations with Hezbollah-backer Iran and has expressed concerns about a regional war breaking out in the Middle East.