Beijing-Sana
China has warned of the consequences of the American criminal aggression that led to the martyrdom of Lieutenant-General Qassem Soleimani, commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps and deputy head of the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Organization, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, reiterating Beijing's opposition to the use of force in international relations.
"The sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of Iraq must be respected, and peace and stability in the Gulf region must be protected," Xinhua news agency quoted Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Jing Shuang as saying on Monday, recalling that "China has always opposed the use of force in international relations and insisted that all parties adhere to the purposes of The principles of the United Nations Charter and the basic rules governing international relations.
"We urge relevant parties, especially the United States, to maintain calm and exercise restraint to avoid further escalating the current tensions in the Gulf region," he added.
A spokesman for the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces announced at dawn today the death of Lieutenant General Suleimani and Deputy Chairman of the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Organization, Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis, as a result of an American missile attack that targeted their car after they left Baghdad Airport.
