Chinese embassy in Syria denies military force joined Idlib battle

The Chinese embassy in Syria denied a Syrian media report that "China sent military forces to participate in Syrian government's military operation during the battle of Idlib." 

"China has never sent any military force in any military operation led by the Syrian government," and China firmly supports the peaceful political settlement of the Syrian crisis. But China supports Syria in its struggle with terrorism, said a statement in Chinese on the embassy's website on Thursday.

An August 1 report on Syrian newspaper Al-Watan "misinterpreted" quotes from Chinese Ambassador to Syria Qi Qianjin and Military Attaché Wang Ruizheng, the statement said.

Another report by Al-Watan on August 1 said that Qi suggested Beijing could soon deploy forces to assist the Syrian Army in its forthcoming Idlib offensive, in addition to counter-terrorist operations in other parts of the country.

The Al-Watan report also quoted the Chinese diplomat as saying that "they are monitoring the conflict," adding that the Chinese military "is willing to participate in some way alongside the Syrian Army fighting the terrorists in Idlib and in any other part of Syria."