Israeli airstrike destroys Russian cultural centre building in southern Lebanon Video

Fighter jets of the Israeli Air Force have struck the city of Nabatieh in southern Lebanon, completely destroying the building that housed the Russian Cultural Centre, its director said.

Speaking by telephone to Russia's state-run media TASS, the centre’s director Asaad Diya said the facility occupied the first floor of a five-story residential building that was destroyed in the strike.

According to Diya, the Russian Cultural Centrein Nabatieh was founded in 2004 and served as a social and cultural meeting place for graduates of Russian universities and members of the Russian-speaking community across southern Lebanon.

“We offered Russian language courses, and children studied music, dance and drawing,” Diya said. “We had a hall where we held festive evenings of Russian-Lebanese friendship and concerts.”

During the 2024 conflict between Israel and armed groups in Lebanon, the premises sustained material damage. Diya said repairs were delayed at the time because assistance was prioritised for families affected by the fighting.

“The repairs were completed recently, and everyone was happy,” he said.

By Sabina Mammadli