China expressed opposition on Thursday over attacks on civilians and civilian facilities, saying that attacks on schools severely violated international humanitarian law.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning made the remarks when commenting a report saying that over 20 Iranian universities have been damaged in strikes since the US-Israeli attack and academics themselves have been targeted.

"We, once again, call for an immediate end to military operations and a return to dialogue and negotiation as soon as possible to prevent even worse humanitarian disasters," Mao told a daily news conference.