Russia began evacuation of its citizens, as well as nationals of other countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) from Lebanon and the territories reporting to the Palestinian Authority, the Emergency Situations Ministry said on Sunday.

An IL-62 jet of the ministry's transport fleet is due to leave for the Jordanian capital Amman at 09:00 a.m. Moscow time (05:00 GMT) on Monday, Irina Andrianova, the chief spokeswoman for the Emergency Situations Ministry, was quoted by the Itar-Tass news agency as saying.

A total of 74 people will be evacuated by the first special flight, Andrianova said, adding that most of the evacuees are women and children.

Russians and citizens of other CIS countries are being transported to Amman from the territory of the Palestinian Authority by bus. Beirut's international airport has been destroyed in course of attacks that Israeli forces launched at the city over the past few days.

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said earlier Sunday Russia is preparing for an emergency evacuation of its citizens from Lebanon.

"Like all other countries, whose citizens have been stranded in Lebanon and Palestine, Russia is engaged, among other things, in preparing their urgent evacuation," Lavrov said.

"We hope Israeli and Lebanese authorities will ensure the necessary conditions for this," he said.

Israel launched a military offensive against Lebanon on Wednesday after two of its soldiers were kidnapped by Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

Source: Xinhua