Speaking to TASS on Wednesday, Lt. Gen. Apti Alaudinov stated that the conflict is likely to intensify further. “We must realize that the war in the Middle East will only escalate. I believe that is precisely Israel’s objective to ramp up the conflict as much as possible and drag both the US and the entire NATO bloc into it,” said Alaudinov, who serves as deputy chief of the Russian military’s Main Military-Political Directorate.

The senior general, who commands the Akhmat special forces, warned that Israel “will overestimate their strength and cease to exist as a state.” He told the state news agency that Tel Aviv seeks to pull Washington and the entire NATO bloc into the widening war.

Regional tensions mount

Tensions have remained high since February 28, when the US and Israel launched joint strikes on Iran, prompting retaliatory attacks by Tehran against regional hosts of American military assets. The conflict has since disrupted maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and defied diplomatic efforts to secure a ceasefire.

Tehran and Washington signed a memorandum of understanding in June intended to end hostilities and establish a broader settlement, but the agreement collapsed amid mutual accusations of violations. Diplomatic channels have since failed to reopen the strategic waterway or revive negotiations on a comprehensive peace deal.