Russia voices concern over worsening Mideast conflict

MOSCOW, March 5 (Xinhua) -- Russia's Foreign Ministry has expressed alarm about the deteriorating situation in the Middle East.

In a statement released on Thursday, the ministry said there were no signs that the United States and Israel, which launched a military operation against Iran, would show restraint and stop the "bloodshed." It said the operation was launched under a fabricated pretext.

The ministry said the United States and Israel are attempting to sow division within the Islamic world during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and to provoke Iran into retaliatory strikes on facilities in several Arab countries, which resulted in human and material losses.

It added that such actions were intended to draw Arab states into a war serving "foreign interests" and to divert attention from the catastrophic plight of the Palestinian people.

Russia called on all parties to immediately cease hostilities, including strikes on the territories of Arab states in the Gulf. It said attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure were "completely unacceptable."