Dialogue, not tit-for-tat violence, the way to resolve burning issues

China has called on all parties to engage in more actions conducive to safeguarding regional peace and stability after yet another act of aggression by Israel that threatens to enflame and expand the conflict in the Middle East.

Just before dawn on Saturday, scores of Israeli jets completed three waves of strikes against missile factories and other sites near the Iranian capital of Teheran and in western Iran.

Whether Tel Aviv informed Teheran in advance of its attacks on Saturday and how precise the attacks were in targeting only military targets do not alter the fact they will herald the start of a new round of tit-for-tat violence in the region.