**China Urges Israel and Iran to Exercise Restraint Amid Rising Tensions**

China has expressed grave concerns over the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran, urging both nations to act prudently to avoid further violence. The Chinese Foreign Ministry reported that Foreign Minister Wang Yi conveyed this message to his Israeli counterpart, Israel Katz, during a recent discussion.

"We are highly worried about the deteriorating situation between Israel and Iran," Wang Yi stated. "Further conflict and chaos in the Middle East are not in anyone's best interest. We hope all concerned parties will exercise restraint to prevent the situation from spiraling into an uncontrollable cycle."

Tensions between the two nations have heightened following Iran’s ballistic missile strike against Israel on October 1. In response, the IDF is preparing for a potential retaliatory operation against the Islamic Republic. This development has caught the attention of the international community, including China, which is keen to maintain peace and stability in the region.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reassured Wang Yi that Iran does not wish to see the already existing regional conflict expand. China has pledged to continue its efforts to de-escalate the situation and restore regional peace.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held security consultations on Monday night, where the situation with Iran was a primary focus. As Israel evaluates its response, the United States has stepped in to bolster Israeli defenses. The Pentagon has deployed the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system (THAAD) along with a 100-member support crew to preempt any further Iranian counterattacks.

In a social media post, Israel Katz emphasized to Wang Yi that Israel will respond to the Iranian missile strike. He pointed out that Iran's aggressive actions are destabilizing not only the Middle East but also posing a global threat. "Iran attacked Israel with more than 180 ballistic missiles. No country could ignore such an attack," Katz affirmed.