The foreign ministers of Egypt and Russia discuss the recent escalation in the Middle East

CAIRO, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) — Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov discussed on Sunday the recent increase in violence in the Middle East.

In a telephone conversation, the two ministers discussed efforts to defuse the situation to preserve security, stability and the interests of the people of the region, Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

The two diplomats also discussed the means available to avoid a vicious cycle of conflict in the region, according to the statement, adding that they also exchanged views on various issues of common interest.

Concerns have grown over a possible regional escalation following the Israeli assassination of Hamas Politburo chief Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed Wednesday morning in an attack on his home in Tehran, as well as after the suspected Israeli attack on Dahieh, a southern suburb of Beirut, which resulted in the deaths of seven civilians and Fouad Shokor, Hezbollah’s military commander. END