China sent the second batch of medical experts to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on Friday morning to support the Central African country's response to the Ebola outbreak, Guo Jiakun, spokesman of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said Friday at a press conference in Beijing.
"Since the outbreak of the current Ebola disease in Africa, China has attached great importance to the situation and urgently dispatched the first group of five medical experts to the DRC to provide services and guidance for local epidemic control, which was highly praised by all sides," Guo said.
The second group of medical expert team sent by the Chinese government to the DRC departed from Beijing in the early hours of July 3, he said.
"The second group of experts covers fields including epidemiology, clinical treatment, and health quarantine. Building on the work of the first group and in light of local conditions and the DRC's needs, the [Chinese] team will further strengthen exchanges with the DRC side and international organizations, and advance science and technology cooperation," Guo said.
"As the Ebola disease continues to spread, China stands ready to continue providing Africa with support to the best of its capacity to help the continent overcome the difficulties at an early date," he said.
China willing to continue offering help for Ebola fighting in Africa: spokesman
China willing to continue offering help for Ebola fighting in Africa: spokesman
Iran's main military command, Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, on Thursday warned that any U.S. interference in the Strait of Hormuz will be met with the Iranian armed forces' "decisive and swift" response.
In a statement carried by Iranian media, the headquarters stressed that the strait is not the "aggressive U.S. playground", but the territory of Iran's "undisputed sovereignty", with its security and stability considered a red line for the Iranian military.
It stressed that all oil tankers and commercial vessels seeking to pass through the strait must use routes designated by Iran, warning that any non-compliance and use of other routes, or disregard for Iran's navigation protocols, will face the Iranian armed forces' "immediate and decisive" response, and endanger the violating vessels' safety.
The headquarters said that Iran considers any U.S. attempt to interfere in security affairs or cause disruption in the Strait of Hormuz as a threat against its national security, and will respond to it "swiftly and decisively."
It emphasized that the continued presence of U.S. manned and unmanned fighter aircraft over the waterway will cause insecurity, adding that Iran will not hesitate to take the necessary actions to "crush any aggression" by the U.S. forces and their supporters to protect its sovereignty over the strait.
Iran has tightened its grip on the strait since Feb 28, 2026, when it barred safe passage of vessels belonging to or affiliated with Israel and the United States following their joint strikes on Iranian territory.
Iran warns of response to any U.S. interference in Hormuz Strait
Iran warns of response to any U.S. interference in Hormuz Strait
