MOSCOW, November 14. /TASS/. The situation in the Middle East is worsening, with attempts to drag Syria into a full-scale conflict in the region, Russian presidential envoy for Syria Alexander Lavrentiev told TASS.

“Unfortunately, we see the conflict in the Middle East expanding. Israel and Iran have exchanged strikes, we see attempts to draw Syria into armed confrontation,” he said.

According to the diplomat, the top priority today is to prevent attempts to drag Syria into the Middle East conflict.

Tensions flared again in the Middle East on October 7 after militants from the radical Palestinian group Hamas, based in the Gaza Strip, launched a surprise incursion into Israeli territory, killing scores of Israeli kibbutz residents living near the Gaza border and kidnapping more than 240 Israelis, including women. , children and the elderly. Israel declared a total blockade of the Gaza Strip and launched bombings on the enclave and parts of Lebanon and Syria, as well as a ground operation against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Clashes are also reported in the West Bank.

Israel has been carrying out massive airstrikes on Hezbollah military targets in Lebanon since September 23, when it launched Operation Northern Arrows. Israel’s stated goal is to create safe conditions in the country’s northern regions so that tens of thousands of local residents can return home. Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was reportedly killed during the Israeli attack on Beirut on September 27. In the early hours of October 1, Israel announced the launch of a ground operation in Lebanon’s border areas.