TEHRAN, Jan. 12 (MNA) – Voicing concern over rising tensions in the Red Sea, China on Friday called on “all relevant parties” to avoid a further escalation of conflicts in the region.

Beijing said the parties should “remain calm and exercise restraint,” Anadolu reported.

“The Red Sea area is an important international trade route for goods and energy, and we hope that all parties involved can play a constructive and responsible role in maintaining the security and stability of the Red Sea, which is in line with the common interests of the international community,” said Mao Ning, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman.

Earlier, China linked tensions in the Red Sea to Israel's war on the besieged Palestinian enclave of Gaza.

US and UK forces launched air, ship, and submarine strikes against Yemen’s Ansarullah fighters early on Friday, allegedly targeting weapons storage, air defense, and logistic facilities.

US President Joe Biden said in a statement, “Today, at my direction, US military forces—together with the United Kingdom and with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands—successfully conducted strikes against some targets in Yemen used by [Ansarullah forces] to endanger freedom of navigation in one of the world’s most vital waterways.”

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also confirmed that the Royal Air Force, alongside US forces, and with “non-operational support” from the Netherlands, Canada, and Bahrain, carried out the attacks on Ansarullah fighters in Yemen.

SD/PR