In a phone call with his Iranian counterpart, Russian President Vladimir Putin highlighted the "disastrous" risk posed by an escalated conflict between Iran and Israel, as tensions in the Middle East continue to rise. The call comes just days after Iran attempted to strike Israel in retaliation for an alleged Israeli airstrike on the Iranian embassy in Syria.

Iran launched an anticipated attack on Israel on Saturday, following the killing of a top Iranian commander and six others in an airstrike on the Iranian embassy earlier this month. While Israel has not claimed responsibility for the attack, the Iranian government has blamed Israel and vowed revenge. Iran recently announced that its attacks on Israel had concluded, but warned of the possibility of further escalation that would be "considerably more severe."

The tension between Iran and Israel has been notably amplified since Hamas, which is aligned with Iran, carried out an attack on Israel on October 7. This prompted Israel to invade the Hamas-run Gaza Strip. As a result, Gen. Herzi Halevi, the chief of staff of the Israeli Defense Forces, reportedly stated that Israel is expected to respond to the Iranian missile attacks.

International leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and British Foreign Secretary David Cameron, have urged Israel to exercise restraint in order to prevent further escalation in the already volatile region.

With no end in sight to the escalating conflict, the international community fears the potential consequences if the situation continues to deteriorate. Both Israel and Iran must now navigate a delicate balance, considering the risks of further military engagement and the potential for catastrophic outcomes.

As tensions persist, the world will anxiously await the response from Israel and how it may shape the future of the Middle East.