Russia has been carefully maneuvering in the Israel-Hamas conflict, issuing calibrated criticism of both sides. This approach allows Russia to seize opportunities to advance its role as a global power broker and challenge Western efforts to isolate it over the Ukraine situation. The conflict has given Russia a platform to expand its global clout and assert its influence in the Middle East. The escalating conflict in the Middle East between Israel and Hamas is seen as a gift of distraction for Russian President Vladimir Putin. By drawing attention away from the situation in Ukraine, Putin can cultivate global pressure points and distractions. While Western leaders rushed to denounce the attack and show solidarity with Israel, Putin took his time and condemned the violence by Hamas. This stance threatens Russia's friendly ties with Israel and could have consequences amid the ongoing Ukraine war. Putin has offered to mediate between Israel and Hamas, leveraging Russia's friendly ties with both parties. The conflict also plays into Putin's gameplan of repealing sanctions imposed by the US and its allies, as Arab leaders accuse the US of supporting Israel while ignoring the rising civilian death toll in Gaza. Putin has vilified the US, portraying the Israel-Hamas conflict as a failure of US diplomacy and criticizing Western policy on Israel. Both the US and Russia have called for a humanitarian ceasefire and the delivery of aid to civilians in the war-torn region, but their proposals differ in terms of addressing Israel's right to self-defense and the evacuation of civilians in Gaza. Russia's involvement in the conflict has the potential to reshape the dynamics of the region and challenge the influence of traditional players like the US.
Moscow's indifference to the escalating tensions between Iranian-backed militias, Israeli forces, and American troops in Syria is raising eyebrows. Despite being a close ally of Syrian President Bashar Al Assad, Russia is not actively trying to mitigate the proxy war in Syria. This lack of action is seen as a calculated move by Russia, as the tensions pose no direct threat to Moscow. In fact, Russia stands to benefit from the consequences of these escalations. The Russian mercenary organization Wagner Group has been tasked with delivering missile defense systems to Hezbollah, further entrenching Russia's influence in the region. Additionally, Russia, Iran, and the Syrian regime have created a coordination center to increase risks for US military personnel in Syria and eventually compel their withdrawal. Moscow sees the potential withdrawal of US forces as a strategic victory, allowing the Syrian regime to regain control of the resource-rich northeast. Russia anticipates that increased American military support for Israel will divert resources away from Ukraine, which aligns with Putin's interests. By remaining quiet and waiting in the wings, Russia is ready to reap the rewards if chaos continues in Syria. [59562419] [ab8160f8]