BEIRUT: Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun warned of a third world war in case the Syrian regime of President Bashar Assad collapses, adding that neither Russia nor China would allow such a scenario to occur.

“I don’t think the Syrian regime would collapse, but if it gets close to collapse, a new world war will erupt because China and Russia won’t let the regime in Syria collapse,” Aoun said Friday.

In an interview with Al-Mayadeen TV, Aoun said U.S. interests in the region are based on controlling Syrian oil and ensuring the safety of Israel.

The 17-month-old Syrian uprising aims at more than regime change in Syria. “The U.S. is interested in Israel’s security and this requires targeting Syria,” he added.

Aoun also warned against extremism. “There are already organizations loyal to Al-Qaeda under different names in the country and no one knows their connections.”