There is a high risk of a third party entering the conflict between Israel and Hamas, the Kremlin said Monday, October 9.
Russia’s concerns come at a time the United States says it is moving an advanced aircraft carrier, ships and jets to the eastern Mediterranean (closer to its ally Israel), in anticipation to more Hamas attacks.
“The risk of third forces becoming involved in this conflict is high,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was quoted as saying by the TASS news agency.
“It is very important to find ways as soon as possible to move towards some kind of negotiation process in order to reduce this escalation and move away from a military solution,” he added.
U.S show of support for Israel
Russia says it is in contact with both sides of the conflict, to find a non-military solution.
U.S Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin on Sunday, October 8 said he had ordered a large deployment, one of them being the USS Gerald R Ford with its deck of warplanes, in a show of support for Israel.
Israel is fearing that other forces in the region could also launch surprise attacks.
Hezbollah factor
On Sunday, Lebanon’s Iran-backed Shiite militant group Hezbollah fired mortar shells at Israeli military sites on the Lebanon border.
Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bouhabib, however, says that his government has received assurances from Hezbollah that it will not join the fighting unless Israel “harasses” Lebanon.
Although some western countries have expressed fears of Iran getting involved in the conflict, Tehran has rejected these accusations.
