China ‘concerned’ over Syria conflict, offers to help prevent escalation

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - China on Tuesday expressed deep concern over the escalating conflict in northwestern Syria, offering to actively help prevent further deterioration while urging its nationals in the country to exercise caution.

“China is deeply concerned over the situation in northwestern Syria, and supports Syria’s effort to uphold national security and stability,” Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian told Rudaw, adding, “As Syria’s friend, China is willing to make active effort to avoid further deterioration of the situation in Syria.”

The Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and other Syrian rebel groups launched a major offensive against the Syrian army over the past week. They took control of the northern city of Aleppo, the largest in the country, and advanced their offensive into Hama province.

“We too would like to remind Chinese nationals in Syria to take extra security precautions, leave the country or travel to relatively safer regions as soon as possible, and immediately contact the embassy for assistance in emergency situations,” the spokesperson said.

Concerns have been raised over the safety of non-combatants. Ali Iso, director of Ezdina, a Germany-based Yazidi rights organization, on Sunday, said that “large-scale retaliations” might be carried out against the Kurdish population in Aleppo. Approximately half a million Kurds and 5,000 Yazidis lived in the province before the start of the violence.

On Monday, Iso, director of Ezdina, said that Syrian opposition militants opened fire on Ahmed Haso, an elderly Yazidi man, killing him and injuring his wife in the town of Tel Rifaat in the Afrin region.

The United Nations said that at least 50,000 people have been displaced since the fighting erupted in late November.