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India deplores

Israeli raid on

Lebanon

New Delhi: India today strongly deplored the Israeli air raids on Southern Lebanon on Thursday killing 94 Lebanese refugees and called for an immediate end to all hostilities and violence in the region.

An External Affairs Ministry spokesman's statement here said New Delhi also reiterated its call on all parties concerned to exercise utmost restrain and to avoid attacks on civilian targets under all circumstances.

Expressing India's "deep distress" at the "continuation of hostilities and violence" across the Israel-Lebanon border, the spokesman said more than half a million people have had to flee their homes from various parts of Lebanon following the outbreak of violence.

He also said India's despatching humanitarian assistance to Lebanon which included medicines, blankets, non-perishable foods and other relief goods.-APP