The killing of Iranian leaders and attacks on civilian targets are by no means acceptable, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Thursday in response to a related query.

Spokesperson Lin Jian made the remarks at a daily press briefing, adding China is always against the use of force in international relations. Earlier on, Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, had been reportedly killed in an Israeli attack.

Responding to the statement by the Israeli side that its troops have been authorized to attack and kill any Iranian official without the need of approval, Lin said China is shocked at such remarks.

Lin added that as the war rages on in the Middle East and the tense situation there continues to escalate and spill over, an early ceasefire and end to hostilities are being widely called for by the international community.

China urges parties to the conflict to immediately stop military operations and avoid plunging the regional situation into a state where it is out of control, Lin said.

(Cover: File photo of Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian.)