An IL-76 transported another batch of humanitarian aid for the Lebanese. “The humanitarian operation is being carried out on the orders of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Emergencies Minister Alexander Kurenkov,” the agency said on its official Telegram channel on Thursday.

The shipment, the third by the Russian ministry since Israel escalated its attacks on Lebanon, consists of nearly 24 tonnes of medicines, food and basic necessities.

Israel invaded southern Lebanon on October 1 under the pretext of a ground operation against the Lebanese Shiite militia Hezbollah and has continued its air strikes, which have so far killed more than 3,000 people, including children and women, and wounded some 13,600.

Senior Hezbollah commanders have also been killed in the Israeli attacks, although the Lebanese movement continues to fight on the ground despite the casualties and has not ceased its rocket attacks on Israeli targets.

The government in Tel Aviv justifies its bombardments by saying that it is trying to create the conditions for the return of 60,000 Israelis from the northern part of the country, who were evacuated when Hezbollah launched attacks in support of the Palestinian movement Hamas a year ago.

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