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

"Regrettably, we see the Middle East conflict expanding. Israel and Iran exchanged strikes, we see attempts at dragging Syria into the armed confrontation," he said.

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

Tensions flared up again in the Middle East on October 7 after militants from the Gaza Strip-based radical Palestinian group Hamas launched a surprise incursion on Israeli territory, killing many Israeli kibbutz residents living near the Gaza border and abducting more than 240 Israelis, including women, children and the elderly. Israel declared a total blockade of the Gaza Strip and launched bombardments of the enclave and some areas in 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 delivering massive airstrikes on Hezbollah military targets in Lebanon since September 23, when it launched Operation Northern Arrows. Israel’s declared goal is to create safe conditions in the country’s northern areas so that tens of thousands of local residents could return to their homes. Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was reportedly killed in Israel’s strike 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.