Russian spokeswoman slams Israeli ambassador's call to condemn Iran attack

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman slammed the call of the Israeli ambassador to Moscow for condemning Iran’s overnight missile and drone attack on Israel over the weekend.

“Simona (Halperin), remind me when Israel condemned at least one strike by the Kyiv regime on Russian regions? Don't remember? Me too,” Maria Zakharova said in a statement on Telegram on Sunday.

Zakharova went on to express that she recalls regular statements by Israeli officials in support of Kyiv's "actions" amid the Russia-Ukraine war, which entered its third year two months ago.

Earlier in the day, Halperin told the Russian state news agency RIA that Israel expected Moscow to condemn Iran's attack on Israel, and hoped it will oppose Tehran’s attempts to “destabilize the region.”

Commenting on the attack, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Moscow is “extremely concerned” about another “dangerous escalation” in the Middle East, calling on all parties involved to exercise restraint and voicing its hope that countries will resolve existing regional issues through political and diplomatic means.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched a barrage of drones and missiles at Israel late on Saturday in response to the April 1 attack on the Iranian Consulate in Damascus.

The attack, which killed seven Iranian military officials, including a senior IRGC commander, drew sharp reactions from the Iranian government officials, who vowed a "decisive response."

According to some unconfirmed reports, the IRGC fired more than 300 drones and missiles in an attack that lasted several hours, many of which were intercepted by Israeli air defense systems.

However, IRGC commander Gen. Hossein Salami told reporters in Tehran on Sunday morning that the operation was successful more than they had expected.

Meanwhile, speculation is rife that Israel may decide to retaliate, which experts believe could trigger an all-out regional war.