Russia says US approach in Middle East is 'complete failure'

Russia on Tuesday said the United States' approach in the Middle East was a "complete failure" after Iran launched a massive missile attack on Israel.

"Complete failure of the Biden administration in the Middle East," foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a post on Telegram.

"A bloody drama that is only gaining momentum. The White House's incomprehensible statements demonstrate its complete helplessness in resolving crises."

Russia urged Israel to "immediately" pull its troops out of southern Lebanon on Tuesday, after the Israeli military began what it said were "ground raids" against Hizbollah in the area.

Israel announced the assault after launching a week of intense air strikes on Lebanon that left hundreds dead and killed Hizbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah, military operations the Kremlin also condemned.

"Russia strongly condemns the attack on Lebanon and calls on the Israeli authorities to immediately cease hostilities, withdraw their troops from Lebanese territory and engage in a real search for peaceful ways to resolve the Middle East conflict," the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement.

"We express our solidarity with the leadership and people of friendly Lebanon, which has been subjected to armed aggression," it added.

President Joe Biden said Tuesday that the United States was "fully supportive" of Israel after Iran's ballistic missile attacks, describing Tehran's assault as "defeated and ineffective."

Biden said he would now discuss with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about how to respond to Iran, but that it remained to be seen what shape that response would take.

"The attack appears to have been defeated and ineffective, and this is a testament to Israeli military capability and the US military," Biden told reporters at the White House.

"Make no mistake, the United States is fully, fully, fully supportive of Israel."