China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi expressed strong support for Lebanon’s sovereignty and security during a meeting with Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib on Monday, condemning Israel’s large-scale airstrikes that left 492 people dead and forced tens of thousands to flee. The meeting between Wang and Bou Habib took place in New York, where the two diplomats discussed the escalating violence in the Middle East.

According to a statement from China’s Foreign Ministry, Wang affirmed that China would continue to stand with Lebanon and other Arab nations in the region, regardless of how the situation evolves. “We firmly support Lebanon in safeguarding its sovereignty and security and strongly condemn violations against it,” Wang said.

Israel’s military said it launched airstrikes on Hezbollah sites in Lebanon on Monday in response to ongoing rocket attacks. The strikes, which Lebanese authorities described as the deadliest in decades, targeted Hezbollah positions across southern Lebanon, the Bekaa Valley, and other areas. Wang criticized the strikes, emphasizing that China opposed indiscriminate attacks on civilians and was closely monitoring the regional situation, including the recent explosion of communication equipment in Lebanon.

Wang Yi reiterated China’s commitment to peace in the Middle East, stating that “fighting violence with violence will not solve problems but will cause greater humanitarian disasters.” He called on the international community to adopt a clearer stance and for regional countries to unite against the spillover effects of the Gaza conflict, which he identified as a root cause of the current crisis.