The Russia Foreign Ministry today issued a statement warning the United States against launching any attacks on the Syrian government, cautioning it would have “terrible, tectonic consequences” not just in Syria but also across the entire Middle East.

Since the collapse of the Syrian ceasefire about two weeks ago, the US has been railing against Russia and Syria, and threatening non-specific “non-diplomatic actions” against them, particularly in the city of Aleppo, where Syrian forces are fighting against the Nusra Front.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova in particular cautioned against a US-imposed regime change in Syria, saying it would quickly fill a new government with terrorists of all stripes. Russian officials have repeatedly criticized the US response after the ceasefire, arguing they’re overtly backing terrorist groups like Nusra, which is closely aligned with al-Qaeda.

In the lead-up to the failed ceasefire, the US talked of a seven-day pause on striking Nusra territory, leading to joint US-Russia military operations against Nusra, after they were separated from US-backed “moderates.” Though the ceasefire did last 7 days, Nusra never separated from the other rebels, and the US quickly ditched the joint operations pledge, and started condemning Syria and Russia for their resumption of strikes against Nusra.

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