China on Sunday called on “parties concerned, especially Israel”, to immediately take actions to cool down tensions to prevent the conflict in West Asia from going out of control in the aftermath of the killing of Iran-backed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Israeli bombing.
“China is closely following the incident and is deeply concerned over the escalation of tensions in the region,” a Chinese Foreign Ministry statement said.
Separately, China also issued an advisory asking its citizens not to travel to Lebanon due to the intensification of the conflict.
“China opposes the infringement on Lebanon’s sovereignty and security, opposes and condemns any action against innocent civilians, and opposes any move that fuels antagonism and escalates regional tensions,” the Chinese Foreign Ministry statement said.
“China urges parties concerned, especially Israel, to immediately take actions to cool down the situation and prevent the conflict from escalating or even spiralling out of control,” it said, without directly referring to Nasrallah’s killing, regarded as a major setback to Iran, the main backer of the Hezbollah.
Reports from Tehran said Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who said Nasrallah’s death “will not go unavenged”. has been shifted to a secure location.
Khamenei also announced five days of public mourning after Nasrallah’s death.
In recent years, China has stepped in its diplomatic engagement in the Middle East to counter US influence. Last year, Beijing managed to bring about a landmark peace deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia.
After the intensification of the Gaza war, China hosted a meeting of 14 Palestinian factions, including Fatah and Hamas, in July to bring about unity among them.
China has also strongly condemned the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in July, warning that the killing could plunge the region into deeper chaos.
The Chinese embassy in Lebanon, meanwhile, issued an advisory warning its citizens about escalating violence along the Lebanon-Israel border.
“We advise all Chinese citizens to pay close attention to the developments and refrain from travelling to Lebanon at this time. Those currently in the country are urged to evacuate or move to relatively safe areas as soon as possible,” the Chinese embassy said in a statement released on Saturday.
Meanwhile, in its first statement since the recent escalation with Israel and following the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, Lebanon’s military called for calm among the Lebanese “at this dangerous and delicate stage.”
Government officials fear that the country’s deep political divisions at a time of war could rekindle sectarian strife and violence in the small Mediterranean country.
“The Israeli enemy is working to implement its destructive plans and spread division among the Lebanese,” the military said.
Military vehicles have been deployed in different parts of the capital as thousands of displaced people continue moving from the south to Beirut.
