Russian researcher and photographer-documentarian Anna Levina who has been living in Beirut has been stocking up on supplies in anticipation of Israel’s assault on Lebanon. She still has non-perishable items sitting in her kitchen since October of last year when Hezbollah and Israel started firing missiles at each other. Levina expressed her feelings of unpleasantness but admitted she had been waiting for this moment for a year.
The escalating conflict between Israel and Lebanon, which has resulted in the deaths of over 2,000 people, has raised concerns for Russia’s strategic interests. Analysts have pointed out that Russia’s foreign policy, focused on a multipolar world as an alternative to the US-led order, is being challenged by the ongoing crisis. Russia has condemned Israel’s actions in Lebanon and has called for a diplomatic solution to the conflict.
The conflict between Israel and its neighbors has also strained Russia’s relationship with Iran, with Russia becoming increasingly dependent on Iranian weapons and military cooperation. While Russia does not want another major war in the Middle East, it benefits from the chaos in the region that distracts the United States. Russia has used its influence to defuse tensions between Israel and Hezbollah in Syria.
Russia’s complex history with Lebanon and Hezbollah dates back to Soviet times, with some lasting sympathies towards modern Russia. During the Lebanese Civil War, there were reported tensions between Hezbollah and Russia, but the current alliance remains fragile. Russia has been evacuating its citizens from Lebanon and providing humanitarian aid in light of the escalating conflict.
Levina, despite the difficult situation, hopes that Hezbollah will be able to deter Israel’s advances, noting that Israel has made similar mistakes in Lebanon in the past.
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Photo credit www.aljazeera.com