From Syria to now Iran, Russia fears another loss in Middle East

 From Syria to now Iran, Russia fears another loss in Middle East

When Israel's Operation Rising Lion against Iran started, Russian media were quick to stress the potential positives for Moscow.

Among them: A rise in global oil prices which is forecast to boost Russia's coffers, plus the distraction of global attention away from Russia's war on Ukraine.

However, the longer Israel's military operation goes on, the greater the realisation that Russia has much to lose from current events.

"The fact remains that Russia was unable to prevent a mass strike by Israel on a country with which five months ago [Russia] signed a comprehensive strategic partnership," wrote Russian political scientist Andrei Kortunov.

In the last six months Moscow has already lost one key ally in the Middle East, Syria's Bashar al-Assad. The prospect of regime change in Iran, the thought of losing another strategic partner in the region, will be of major concern to Moscow.