MOSCOW, April 16 Russia's role as a mediator in the Middle East , in particular between Iran and Israel, is increasing against the backdrop of how US capabilities in the region are weakening, says Vladimir Evseev, head of the department of Eurasian integration and development of the SCO Institute of CIS Countries, military expert.
«»If you look at the beginning of the conflict, there was a feeling that the main mediator in the settlement was the United States. But in view of the fact that the current Israeli leadership is not completely controlled by the United States, in this case the role of Russia as a mediator is increasing,» — Evseev said at a round table about the conflict in the Rossiya Segodnya news agency.
He noted that the United States tried to do a lot to weaken the confrontation between Iran and Israel, but could not cope on its own. In this situation, Russia can act as a more active player, the expert added.
«Under certain scenarios for the development of the situation, Russia may not act as the main, but an important mediator who can influence not only Iran, but also Israel. Because Israel must take into account the insufficient capabilities of the United States in the region,» — Evseev emphasized.
A similar situation occurred with the confrontation between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement: Washington was unable to stop the escalation of the conflict, despite multiple diplomatic efforts. And this, the expert concluded, indicates a decrease in the US’s capabilities in resolving conflicts in the Middle East.
An elite unit of the Iranian Armed Forces, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, launched a strike on Israeli territory on the night of April 14 in response to the destruction by Israeli aircraft of the Iranian consulate in Syria at the beginning of the month. The attack, according to various sources, involved several hundred missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles, including Shahed kamikaze drones, Fattah and Fattah-2 hypersonic missiles. Iranian state television channel Press TV reported that all hypersonic missiles reached their targets.
According to the Israeli army, Iran launched a total of more than 300 munitions and UAVs, including about 170 drones, more than 30 cruise missiles and more than 120 ballistic missiles. At the same time, Israel states that only “a few missiles” reached the country and caused “minor damage.”
The head of the general staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, Mohammad Bagheri, said that Tehran has completed Operation True Promise and does not plan to continue it, but if Israel takes any measures, the next Iranian operation will be larger than the previous one.
Israeli Minister Benny Gantz said the country intends to create a regional coalition against the Iranian threat and respond to the attack at the appropriate time and in an appropriate manner. The Israeli government is expected to decide on further actions in the near future.