by Xinhua writer Chen Wenxian

JERUSALEM, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- Israel on Saturday launched a large-scale attack against alleged Iranian and Syrian military targets in Syria in response to the downing of an Israeli F-16 fighter by missiles.

Israel justified its military retaliation by blasting "the most blunted and severe Iranian violation of Israeli sovereignty in the last years." Earlier, an Iranian unmanned Aerial Vehicle was reportedly intercepted by an Israeli helicopter.

The confrontation was the most serious between Israel and Iran, two arch foes in the region, since the start of the civil war in Syria in 2011.

The latest chain of military actions has raised concerns about the escalation of tensions in the Middle East, which has long been suffering from chaos, violence and conflicts.

No doubt, the failure to rein in the inclination to retaliate, lack of mutual trust and protracted hostility have led to the latest Israeli military actions against Syria and its ally, Iran.

If further military confrontation, or a war, breaks out between the two sides, it is surely to create a new disaster in the region and deal a severe blow to the international efforts to seek peaceful solution to any conflict.

The situation in the Middle East remains volatile as some countries are actively prepared for the next war. However, history has already proven that conflicts or wars will only bring about destruction and suffering that none would benefit from.

In recent years, certain countries in the region have suffered deeply from conflicts and wars. Political instability, economic recession and rising terrorism have prevailed in these nations, leading to the seemingly endless killing of innocent people, displacement of a large number of citizens, and an economy disaster.

So it is vital for the related parties, especially Israel and Iran, which are both militarily strong, to exercise self-restraint and give diplomacy a chance.

They need to seek to resolve any dispute via negotiations instead of using force. They can resort to the mediation either by the United Nations or any other neutral party.

It is time to stop the bleeding. The rivals in the Middle East should heal their wounds with peaceful means. People in this region are in dire need of peace instead of hatred and conflict.

As China has advocated, today's world needs to create a community of common destiny, a shared home for humankind, in which every country and nation will live in peace and harmony and share the benefits of common development.