... Russia’s engagement in Syria has always been quite modest, limited primarily to providing air support for Damascus, while Iran and the local Shia militia backed by Tehran were in charge of a more important ground support. Some would also argue that ... ... constitutes a new strategic challenge for the Kremlin and the name of the game that Moscow has to play now in Syria and in the Middle East at large is damage limitation rather than anything else.
A lot in defining a new approach to Syria depends on the ...
... aimed at maintaining the existing status-quo or will it be forced to review and to revise its positions towards Israel, Palestinians, Iran and its main partners in the Arab world? Let us have a look at the most important pieces of the rich and diverse Middle East mosaic, namely—on Israel, Palestine, Iran and the Arab Gulf states.
Israel
The Russian-Israeli relations started experiencing problems long before the US 2024 elections. In particular, the launch of the special military operation in Ukraine on February 24, 2022 had a significant impact on ...
... East conflict, including informal ones. From this point of view, they are capable of building a more flexible policy compared to Iran or the United States. Their room to maneuver is limited due to the high level of cooperation with their allies in the Middle East.
After Iran's missile strikes on Israel in April and October 2024, Jordan was reported to have been involved in intercepting Iranian missiles and drones. According to some news agencies, Tehran aimed to send a message to Gulf Arab states, warning them of the ...
... possible Israeli response makes it very difficult to discern possible regional implications. Too much depends on the scale of Israel’s operation in Lebanon: the behavior of non-state actors with a high degree of autonomy, Israel’s response to an Iranian attack, and many other parameters. The Middle East remains quite vulnerable to “black swans” or hard-to-predict events, sometimes significantly affecting regional dynamics. Nevertheless, it remains crucial to identify the trajectories for any possible developments in conflict and Middle ...
... More. China and Russia Should Help Restore Multipolarity in the Middle East
Postmodernity as inoculation against war
However, the core reasons lie not outside, but inside the region. It appears that key actors—from Egypt to Syria, and from Turkey to Iran—are unwilling to engage in a full-blown war. Middle Eastern leaders are reluctant to shoulder the numerous risks and costs associated with a major armed conflict in one way or another.
True, the arms race in the Middle East region received a powerful new boost in October 2023 and is likely to accelerate ...
Soviet influence in the Middle East was ultimately useless, and now it seems Washington is heading down the same path
The confrontation between Iran and Israel has been going on for several weeks now. However, none of the parties directly – or, indeed, indirectly – involved in Middle East politics are keen to see events there escalate into a larger military conflict.
In other words, the situation ...
The two rivals’ jabs at each other are rapidly increasing in both number and intensity
The situation in the Middle East, where the aspirations of Iran and Israel have once again collided, is paradoxical in that there is no way out. Both sides would like to put a stop to the other’s gallop, but this is impossible without disastrous consequences for themselves. There are many reasons for this situation,...
... serious deterrent to counter aerial threats? The short answer is no. Iran must also consider the arrival and committed support of a US naval strike force that harbors an aircraft carrier and a supporting cast of destroyers and cruisers.
Andrey Kortunov:
Iran: The Middle East’s Joker
Most have been predicting a quick response from Iran; however, Iran may need to buy more time if it is planning to make a substantial attack on the Jewish state. First, it will take some time to set up a defensive ring around strategic ...
... to Haniyeh's killing has been swift and direct. Iran, a staunch supporter of Hamas since its inception in 1987, has provided extensive training and funding to the group, supplying them with rockets, missiles, and drones. Additionally, according to
Middle Eastern intelligence officials
, Iran has played a crucial role in helping Hamas construct an intricate network of underground tunnels in Gaza, designed to protect their equipment and infrastructure from Israeli attacks. Hamas has also received significant financial support from Iran,...
... to the Palestinian–Israeli issue.
How do you see the current state of Russian–Israeli relations?
Regional Trends in the Middle East: Political and Economic Dynamics. RIAC Report
Russian–Israeli relations have a solid and positive footing. From ... ... society, this has always been and will always be an aggravating factor in Russian–Israeli relations. Israel’s arch enemies are Iran, Hamas and Hezbollah, while we have constructive relations with them. Let me remind you that Hamas and Hezbollah are designated ...
