The Xinhua news agency quoted Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan as saying that China was concerned the already tense situation in the Midle East would be exarcerbated by Israel's actions.

"China strongly calls for the involved parties to exercise utmost retraint to avoid further deterioration of the situation in the region," he said.

Israeli jets attacked a suspected Palestinian militant camp north of Damascus in retaliation for a suicide bombing that was claimed by Islamic Jihad.

Syria has asked the UN Security Council, of which China is a permanent member, to condemn the Israeli attack.

WAR.WIRE