Russia on Tuesday began airlifting equipment and troops from a military engineering unit to Lebanon to aid the war-battered country's reconstruction.

Russian state news agency RIA-Novosti quoted Russian air force commander Vladimir Mikhailov as saying that the first flight carrying 17 soldiers and 80 tons of equipment left Tuesday morning and a second plane was scheduled to leave with 130 troops aboard.

Over a three-day period, Russia will send about 300 soldiers and 130 tons of equipment in total, he said.

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The troops, which will rebuild bridges in Lebanon destroyed during the 34-day war, will not take part in peacekeeping operations.

Russia has not contributed troops to the 5,000-strong United Nations peacekeeping contingent in south Lebanon.