Putin And Iranian President Discuss Middle East Situation After Israel's Attack On Syria

Russian President Vladimir Putin. (PHOTO: RIA Novosti via kremlin.ru)

JAKARTA - Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi discussed the situation of the Middle East following the Israeli attack on the Iranian Consulate in Damascus, Syria, April 1.

Phone talks took place based on initiatives from Iran, the Kremlin said.

"The deteriorating situation in the Middle East following Israel's airstrikes against Iran's diplomatic mission in Damascus and the retaliatory actions taken by Iran are discussed in detail," the Kremlin said in a statement quoted by ANTARA from Sputnik, Tuesday, April 16.

Putin expressed his hope that all parties in the Middle East would refrain and not allow a new confrontation round to occur, according to the Kremlin.

On the other hand, Ebrahim Raisi noted that Iran's actions were forced and limited. At the same time, he stressed Tehran's uninterest in further tensions, "the Kremlin said.

On Saturday (14/4), Iran fired more than 300 drones and missiles at Israel, in retaliation for an Israeli attack on the Iranian Consulate in Damascus that killed at least seven members of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

However, Israel says nearly all Iranian drones and ballistic missiles have been intercepted by Israel's defense system and its allies, namely the United States, France, and Britain.

Israel claimed the attack only hit one of its military air bases, but caused no serious damage.