BEIJING: China said on Tuesday it will provide humanitarian assistance to Middle Eastern countries, including Iran and Lebanon, targeted in US and Israeli strikes in the conflict now in its third week.

Beijing has urged the US and Israel to cease their attacks on the country, while also criticizing Tehran’s strikes against Gulf states housing US military bases.

China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said the war had caused “grave humanitarian catastrophes” in Iran and other Middle Eastern nations.

“China has decided to provide emergency humanitarian assistance to Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, and Iraq. It is hoped this will help alleviate the humanitarian plight faced by the local populations,” Lin told a press conference, without providing further details.

“China will continue to make every effort to promote peace and stop the war ... and to prevent further spreading of the humanitarian crisis,” he added.