China has put the responsibility for the recent escalation in the Middle East on Israel’s action, calling its attack on Iran’s embassy an act of extremely vicious nature.

Making a statement at the United Nations Security Council Briefing on the Situation in the Middle East, Chinese ambassador Dai Bing said that a crisis in the region would have serious spillover effects.

“On April 1, Iran’s diplomatic premises in Syria were attacked by airstrikes, resulting in loss of several Iranian personnel and severe destruction to the premises,” Bing said.

“This is a grave violation of the UN Charter and international law and a breach of the sovereignty of both Syria and Iran. The attack is of an extremely vicious nature,” he added.

He called on all parties to ‘exercise maximum calm and restraint’ and resolve their differences and disputes in accordance with the purposes of the UN Charter and international law to prevent further escalations.

Bing also said that the current situation was a direct consequence of Iran’s actions in Gaza.

“It serves as another reminder that the Palestinian question remains central to the Middle East issue and bears on the peace, stability and long-term security in the region. If the flames of the Gaza conflict are allowed to continue raging, then the adverse spillover is set to spread still further, making the region even more unstable,” Bing said.

“Countries and peoples in the Middle East have no desire for, nor can they afford a larger conflict or war.”

Iran had launched explosive drones and fired missiles at Israel late on Saturday in its first direct attack on Israeli territory, a retaliatory strike that raised the threat of a wider regional conflict, as the U.S pledged “ironclad” backing for Israel.

Israel’s military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said Iran launched dozens of ground-to-ground missiles at Israel, most of them intercepted outside Israeli borders. They included more than 10 cruise missiles, he said.