Russia is opposed to a buildup of weapons in the Middle East, and especially supplies to militant armed groups, the president's envoy to the region said on Tuesday.

Opening a Valdai discussion club session, Alexander Saltanov, also Russian deputy foreign minister, said speaking about Hezbollah in Lebanon and Palestinian Hamas: "To us it is obvious that illegal arms supplies are unacceptable."

Arms supplies to Hezbollah is, on the one hand, Lebanon's internal issue as the country is split between those who believe the radical group is not a regular army and cannot defend the country and others who back the group in the face of military threats.

However, Saltanov said the resolution of the UN Security Council aimed at ending the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon in August 2006 bans any weapons supplies to the group.

Russia itself has faced criticism for its exports of missile systems to Iran and Syria, with Israel fearing the countries would pass the weapons on to Hezbollah in Lebanon.

SUWEIMA, December 22 (RIA Novosti)