Lebanon’s Hezbollah says it fired rockets at Mossad headquarters near Tel Aviv

MOSCOW: The Kremlin said on Tuesday it was deeply concerned about Israel’s military activity in Lebanon and an attack on the Syrian capital Damascus.

Israel said heavy fighting broke out with the Hezbollah movement in southern Lebanon on Tuesday after its paratroopers and commandos launched raids there, at the start of a ground assault that followed air strikes against Hezbollah’s leadership.

Turkiye also condemned Israel’s ground offensive in Lebanon as an “illegal invasion attempt” and called for the withdrawal of its troops.

“This attack must end as quickly as possible and Israeli soldiers must withdraw from Lebanese territory,” the State Department said in a statement.

The Israeli army said its troops were involved in fierce clashes in Lebanon after it launched a ground offensive on Tuesday, escalating the conflict after a week of airstrikes killed hundreds of people.

The ground attack came as Israel targeted southern Beirut, Damascus and Gaza, despite international calls for restraint to prevent a regional conflagration.

“Israel’s violation of this country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity through a ground attack on Lebanon is an unlawful invasion attempt,” the State Department said.

Ankara warned that this would likely trigger a new wave of migration.

“As a result of this dangerous invasion attempt, it is very likely that a new wave of migration will emerge and extremists will gain ground worldwide,” the ministry said.

It called on the UN Security Council to “comply with international law and take necessary measures.”