ATLANTA, United States (CNN) — The United States has called on Russia to protect Israelis and Jews after mobs stormed an airport in the southern Russian republic of Dagestan after a flight from Tel Aviv arrived.
In a post on X, the Special Envoy for the Monitoring and Combating of Anti-Semitism (SEAS), Ambassador Deborah E. Lipstadt condemned the incidents and called on the Russian authorities to “ensure their safety”.
The US official said: “We condemn the reported violent protests in Russia that threaten Israelis and Jews. We call on the Russian authorities to ensure their safety. America stands with Israel and the entire Jewish community as we witness the rise of anti-Semitism around the world.
“There is no justification for targeting Jews or engaging anywhere in anti-Semitic incitement,” he wrote.
Makhachkala Airport in the southern Russian republic of Dagestan was temporarily closed and flights diverted after “unidentified persons” attacked the airport on Sunday, the Russian Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement.
Several videos posted on social media showed crowds of people inside the airport and on the tarmac, some waving Palestinian flags and others passing through the closed doors of the international terminal. The crowd entered the airport after a flight from Tel Aviv landed on Sunday, the official Russian TASS agency reported.
“The crowd rejects the Palestinian-Israeli conflict,” TASS reported.
According to a statement released by the Dagestan Ministry of Health late Sunday, at least ten people were injured when a mob stormed the airport. The injured were police officers and civilians. The ministry said two people were in critical condition.
According to FlightAware, the Red Wing Airlines flight arrived from Tel Aviv at 7:17pm local time on Sunday.
Following the news, the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a joint statement on Sunday.
“Russian legal authorities expect Russia to take strong measures to protect the safety of Israeli citizens and Jews wherever they are, and against rioters and uncontrolled incitement against Jews and Israelis,” the statement added. “The Israeli ambassador to Russia, Alex Ben Zvi, is working with Russian authorities to ensure the safety of Jews and Israelis there,” the statement said.
Sergey Melikov, the president of the Republic of Dagestan, condemned the incident in a post on Telegram on Sunday.
“I ask everyone who loves Dagestan and thinks about its future to be wise and stop any attempt to divide our society! You are making the situation worse with your wrong actions,” wrote Melikov. “Be patient, don’t spread false information and don’t take hasty decisions,” he asked.
CNN has reached out to Red Wing Airlines for comment.
“Creator. Award-winning problem solver. Music evangelist. Incurable introvert.”
