Russia accuses US and Israel of dragging Arab countries into the war

Russia on Thursday accused the United States and Israel of trying to drag Arab countries into ​a wider Middle ⁠East conflict by provoking Iran into striking targets across the region and said there was no sign Washington and Tel Aviv would let up.



Arab states in the Gulf, all close U.S. allies - some of which also have close ties with Russia - have come under Iranian drone and missile attacks since the United States and Israel launched their air strikes on Iran.



Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke by phone to leaders of four Arab Gulf states on Monday, ​offering to use Moscow's ties to Iran to relay concerns about Tehran's strikes on oil infrastructure across the region.