HONG KONG, Oct 3 (Askume) – As Israel launched fresh air strikes on Lebanon, China called on the United Nations Security Council to take “urgent action” to de-escalate the situation in the Middle East.
China needs to make clear and unambiguous demands to stop the cycle of violence in the Israel-Lebanon conflict, China’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Fu Cong said during a Security Council briefing on Wednesday.
“The Security Council has the primary responsibility to maintain international peace and security,” Fu said, the official Xinhua news agency reported. He added that the parties concerned should “return to the path of political and diplomatic solutions.”
On Tuesday, Iran fired more than 180 missiles at Israel, which launched its latest missile attack on central Beirut . Israel has also sent infantry and armored troops to Lebanon and there have been reports of fighting with Iran-backed armed group Hezbollah.
Iran said on Wednesday its biggest missile attack on Israel was over and banned further provocations, but Israel and the United States vowed harsh retaliation.
Iran’s missile attacks and Israel’s vow to retaliate have raised fears that the oil-producing Middle East could be caught in a wider conflict.
Xinhua quoted Fu as saying that the current situation was “hanging on a thread” and that any “idle delay is irresponsible behavior, and any remarks condoning further military adventurism would send the wrong message.”
Fu said the spreading conflict in the Middle East has led to an unprecedented humanitarian disaster with Gaza becoming “hell on earth” and more than 1.2 million people displaced in Lebanon.
China’s Foreign Ministry has urged all parties, especially Israel, to immediately calm the situation to prevent it from getting out of control. Beijing has also expressed opposition to any violation of Lebanese sovereignty.
