Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement on Thursday criticizing the United Nations Security Council's response to the Israeli military's attacks on United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) peacekeepers in Lebanon. The ministry described the UN's response as "insufficient."

"For its part, Russia considers the UN Security Council's response insufficient and out of touch with the realities 'on the ground' due to the [United States]' efforts to politically 'cover up' Israel," the ministry stated on its website. The ministry also expressed its support for UNIFIL and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

UNIFIL reported yesterday that the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) fired at peacekeepers located close to Kafer Kela in Lebanon. Later in the day, the IDF stated that UNIFIL was not the target of the attacks.