India said it was “deeply concerned” by the escalating conflict in Middle East and urged for restraint and protection of civilians as Israel prepared to retaliate against a barrage of Iranian missile strikes, Reuters reports.

“It is important that the conflict doesn’t take a wider regional dimension and we urge that all issues be addressed through dialogue and diplomacy,” India’s foreign ministry said in a statement.New Delhi also advised its nationals to avoid all non-essential travel to Iran.