China, ally of the Syrian regime, condemns attack on Iranian consulate

China on Tuesday said it condemned Israeli air strikes that destroyed the consular annex at close ally Iran's embassy in Damascus.

"China condemns the attack," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said.

"The security of diplomatic institutions cannot be violated, and Syria's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity should be respected," he said.

"The current situation in the Middle East is turbulent and we oppose any actions that lead to an escalation of tensions," Wang said.

The Israeli air strikes destroyed the Iranian embassy's consular annex in Damascus, Syrian and Iranian officials said.

A top Revolutionary Guard commander was among seven members the force said were killed.

China is a close partner of Iran and its largest trade partner and a top buyer of its sanctioned oil.

Beijing also enjoys close ties with Damascus.

In September last year, it became one of only a handful of countries outside the Middle East that President Bashar Al-Assad has visited since the 2011 start of a civil war that has since killed more than half a million people and displaced millions more.