Russian President Vladimir Putin joined international calls for cool heads in the Middle East as tensions remain high following Iran’s unprecedented attack on Israel over the weekend. 

“Vladimir Putin expressed hope that all sides would show reasonable restraint and prevent a new round of confrontation fraught with catastrophic consequences for the entire region,” the Kremlin said in a readout of a call with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, according to a translation by The Moscow Times.  

“Ebrahim Raisi noted that Iran’s actions were forced and limited in nature: At the same time, he stressed Tehran’s disinterest in further escalation of tensions,” the Kremlin added. “Both sides stated that the root cause of the current events in the Middle East is the unresolved Palestinian-Israeli conflict.” 

“In this regard, the principled approaches of Russia and Iran in favor of an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, easing the difficult humanitarian situation, and creating conditions for a political and diplomatic settlement of the crisis were confirmed,” the Kremlin concluded, adding that the call discussed “in detail” the airstrike on Iran’s consulate in Damascus.

ISRAEL PUSHES FOR NEW SANCTIONS ON IRAN, URGES COUNTRIES TO DECLARE REVOLUTIONARY GUARD A TERROR GROUP

On Saturday night, Iran launched hundreds of drones and a mixture of cruise and ballistic missiles in retaliation for strikes against its diplomatic mission, or, as other reports claim, an adjoining Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) compound in Damascus. 

Vladimir Putin Raisi Iran Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, meets with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in Tehran, Iran July 19, 2022. (President Website/WANA (West Asia News Agency)/Handout via REUTERS)

The strike killed seven IRGC members, including Gen. Mohammad Reza Zahedi, the senior commander of the forces since the assassination of Gen. Qasem Soleimani in 2020.

Israel never took credit for the strike, but other countries, including the United States, attributed the attack to the Jewish state. 

Israeli defense systems intercept an Iranian missile over Maale Adumim, near Jerusalem, in the early hours of April 14, 2024. (Matanya Reichman/TPS)

IRAN’S ATTACK ON ISRAEL SHINES SPOTLIGHT ON TEHRAN’S ADVANCING NUCLEAR WEAPONS PROGRAM

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly wanted to retaliate directly, but he changed his plans after President Biden told him to “take the win” and stressed the U.S. would not support any direct response to Iran’s strike. Instead, Israel struck Hezbollah sites in southern Lebanon. 

Israel military in Gaza

Israel’s military says this photo shows its troops operating inside the Gaza Strip on Sunday, Nov. 5. (Israel Defense Forces via AP)

However, Israel continued to stress a desire and intent to retaliate against Iran, with Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant telling U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Sunday that Israel had no choice but to respond. 

The Israel Defense Forces’ (IDF) Chief of Staff Gen. Herzi Halevi added on Monday that “Israel is considering next steps” and that “the launch of so many missiles and drones to Israeli territory will be answered with retaliation,” Axios reported

JOHNSON UNVEILS PLAN TO FUND ISRAEL, UKRAINE IN CLOSED-DOOR HOUSE GOP MEETING

The insistence on retaliation, despite pressure from Israel’s closest and arguably most vital ally to do otherwise, continues to worry the international community. 

US Israel Iran

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, left, and Israel’s Defence Minister Yoav Gallant give a joint press conference in Tel Aviv on Dec. 18, 2023. (Alberto Pizzoli/AFP via Getty Images)

“The Middle East is on the brink,” United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres told a Security Council meeting called on Sunday in response to the strikes. “The people of the region are confronting a real danger of a devastating full-scale conflict. Now is the time to defuse and de-escalate.” 

Biden has continued to increase his pursuit of a ceasefire deal, telling Iraq’s prime minister that the U.S. is “committed to a ceasefire that will bring the hostages home and prevent the conflict from spreading beyond what it already has.”

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

“The United States is committed to Israel’s security,” the president said, according to a readout of the phone call. White House national security communications spokesperson John Kirby told reporters that the president is “certainly not looking for a war with Iran, and I am confident that Prime Minister Netanyahu is aware of the president’s concerns.” 

Reuters contributed to this report.

source

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You May Also Like

Fiji eyes Chinese partnership in upgrading its ports

Fiji’s leader says that after meeting with China’s President Xi Jinping, he…

Police officer who murdered woman he abducted should never have been hired, UK inquiry finds

A London police officer who abducted and murdered a woman three years…

'Irish Lives Matter' graffiti in Belfast, signs against 'rehousing' illegal migrants spark hate probe: report

The message “Irish Lives Matter” scrawled in Belfast, Northern Ireland, as well…

Israel's UN ambassador slams Soros for donations to 'pro-Hamas groups' seeking destruction of Jewish state

Left-wing activist billionaire George Soros is facing intense criticism from Israel’s ambassador…