China Urges Restraint After Deadly Israel-Lebanon Attacks
00:00
00:00
- China blasted Israel’s airstrikes on Lebanon as sovereignty violations, calling for civilian safety and de-escalation after 254 deaths, even as US-Iran ceasefire talks loom.
- Amid 1,739 Lebanese deaths since March, Beijing demands restraint from Israel while Iran suspends Strait of Hormuz traffic over perceived ceasefire breaches.
- Foreign Ministry’s Mao Ning urges diplomacy post-Beirut raids; Trump asks Israel to ease up, but Iran warns talks could collapse without halt to strikes.
Jakarta – China has sharply criticized Israel’s attacks on Lebanon, stressing that no nation’s sovereignty should be violated and civilians must be safeguarded.
The remarks came in response to Israel’s massive airstrikes on Dahiyeh, a southern suburb of Beirut, on Wednesday (April 8).
“Lebanon’s sovereignty and security must not be infringed. Civilians and their property must be protected,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said during a press briefing in Beijing on Thursday (April 9).
The Israeli military had announced strikes on more than 100 targets within 10 minutes across Beirut, the Beqaa Valley, and southern Lebanon.
Wednesday’s assault marked the largest wave since conflict erupted between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah militants on March 2. Israeli strikes have killed at least 254 people, including 92 in Beirut, with 1,165 others wounded across Lebanon.
“We call on all relevant parties to stay calm, exercise restraint, and de-escalate tensions in the region,” Mao added.
She also urged parties to seize the temporary ceasefire between Iran and the United States as a chance to resolve disputes through political and diplomatic channels, ending the conflict.
The strikes followed Tuesday’s (April 7) announcement of a two-week US-Iran ceasefire aimed at paving the way for a deal to halt US and Israeli aggression against Iran since February 28, 2026.
After the ceasefire reveal, Iran’s Supreme National Security Council stated Tehran would begin talks with the US in Islamabad on Friday (April 10).
Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) reported Israeli warplanes hitting several towns, including Kafra, Jmaijmeh, Safad al-Battikh, Majdal Selm, Deir Antar, and areas around the Qasmiyeh bridge.
US President Donald Trump said the halt to Israel’s Lebanon operations wasn’t part of the Iran deal due to Hezbollah’s involvement, though he noted he’d asked Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu to scale back attacks.
Iran, however, views this as a ceasefire breach with Washington.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian warned that ongoing Israeli “Zionist” strikes on Lebanon could render US-Iran ceasefire talks “futile.”
“Continued attacks will make negotiations pointless; our finger remains on the trigger, and Iran will not abandon its brothers in Lebanon,” Pezeshkian posted on X on Thursday (April 9).
Fars News Agency reported Tehran has suspended tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz in response.
Lebanon’s Health Ministry said the death toll since March 2 has risen to 1,739, with 5,873 wounded.
Additionally, 138,000 people are sheltering in 678 collective sites, while over 800,000 refugees—mostly in host communities or informal settings—face severely limited access to basic services.
Indonesianpost.com | Antara
