IRIA News

China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy has sent six warships to the Middle East amid the escalating tensions in the region. However, China has clarified that the deployment is part of routine missions. Earlier, the United States deployed its THAAD and Patriot missile defense system in the region citing the threats posed by Iran.

According to media reports, China’s navy has sent the Zibo, a Type 052D guided-missile destroyer, the guided missile frigate Jingzhou, and the integrated supply ship Qiandaohu to the Middle East as a part of PLA’s 44th Naval Escort Task Force. The ships were in the region to take part in a joint military exercise with Oman and recently embarked on a five-day goodwill visit to Kuwait.

Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy earlier said that the 45th Chinese naval escort task force, including the guided missile destroyer Urumqi, the guided missile frigate Linyi, and the replenishment vessel Dongpinghu, was scheduled to take over an escort mission from the 44th naval fleet in the Gulf of Aden and the waters off Somalia.

The six ships were part of the 44th and 45th Chinese naval escort task forces that participated in a farewell ceremony in the Gulf of Aden. Sending three military ships at once to the region for escort missions is a standard procedure. Chinese military experts clarified that this deployment is unrelated to the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict.

China clarifies deployment after concerns raised

Chinese officials have emphasized that China’s deployment of warships in the Middle East is a routine part of the country’s escort mission and friendly visits to the region. They clarified that this deployment should not be construed as interference in the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict.

In a media statement, Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy, urged an end to baseless sensationalism regarding the deployment of Chinese warships to the Middle East in the context of the Palestine-Israel conflict.

“The fleet of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy set sail for an escort mission and is paying friendly visits to relevant countries,” Liu told Sputnik, adding that “The relevant parties should respect the facts and stop groundless hype.”

The move comes only days after the U.S. Navy brought its most advanced USS Gerald R Ford aircraft carrier to the Middle East along with its battlegroup. The tension in the region has been rising since the October 7 attacks on Israel, which led to Israeli forces carpet bombing the Gaza region resulting in thousands of deaths.

Since the escalation of violence and rocket attacks, the Israeli military has warned that Iran-backed Hezbollah risks dragging neighboring Lebanon into war and said anti-tank missiles were fired from Lebanon, indicating spillover of the conflict into the neighboring states.

The U.S. has been backing Tel Aviv’s violent actions in Gaza by calling it Israel’s “right to defense itself”. Washington has refrained from advocating for an immediate ceasefire. Neighboring Arab leadership, as well as many other leaders in the world including China and Russia, have been asking for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas to stop the loss of innocent lives.

US deploys additional missile defense system

The U.S. has sent its Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system and additional Patriot air defense missile system battalions to the Middle East, the Pentagon said in a statement. The deployment comes in response to recent attacks on U.S. troops in the region.

“Following detailed discussions with President Biden on recent escalations by Iran and its proxy forces across the Middle East Region, today I directed a series of additional steps to further strengthen the Department of Defense posture in the region,” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement.

The deployment of additional air defense followed a series of missile and rocket attacks on U.S. soldiers in the Middle East. Drones and missiles were launched at a U.S. military in Iraq last week, while a drone attack on the U.S. troops in Syria resulted in minor injuries to the soldiers.

Next phase of Gaza campaign

Despite immense external pressure from the international community, Israel’s carpet bombing and aerial raids on Gaza do not seem to slow down. The Israeli military announced that it would initiate the next phase of the Gaza campaign, without giving a timeframe. It is widely expected ground invasion against Hamas would be the next phase of Israel’s campaign in Gaza.

The death toll in Gaza and West Bank has increased to 4,650. Israeli airstrikes have targeted hospitals, mosques, churches, schools, and many other civilian targets not only in Gaza but also in Syria. International airports in the capital, Damascus, and the northern city of Aleppo, and a mosque in the occupied West Bank were targeted by the Israeli airstrikes.

The Israeli military said the mosque compound belonged to Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants who had carried out several attacks in recent months and were planning another one. Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said Israel has been attacking fighters trying to fire missiles from the Lebanese border. He added that the military struck a site in Lebanon from where a missile was fired at an Israeli aircraft.