MOSCOW, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Military strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran are triggering large-scale ecological disasters, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said at a press briefing on Wednesday.
Zakharova made the remarks while commenting on reports that thick black smoke blanketed parts of Tehran on March 8 after overnight strikes hit several oil storage facilities in the city.
She warned that debris and waste generated by the bombardments, including destroyed buildings, military equipment, fuel residue and chemical substances, would pose long-term environmental challenges.
Zakharova stressed that the accumulation of explosion byproducts, burning oil, damaged military hardware, ammunition, construction debris, chemicals and untreated waste could result in unprecedented greenhouse gas emissions and increased pollution of soil, groundwater and coastal waters.
"These consequences will affect not only Iran, as some may assume, but the entire region, and eventually extend beyond it," Zakharova said. ■
