Moscow, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman ,Maria Zakharova, stressed that the escalation of tension in the Middle East is due to the policies of the US and its desire to maintain its influence and hegemony over the region. Zakharova said in statements to Novosti News Agency that Washington's desire to promote its interests while ignoring the fundamental issues in the region is the reason for the dangerous escalation we are currently witnessing in the Middle East. Zakharova pointed out that the root causes of the current escalation are related to the unresolved Palestinian cause, in addition to the inability of the international community to stop the bloodshed of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, warning that the dangerous escalation in the Middle East could lead to a major war. Source: Syrian Arab News Agency