China's restrained silence on the Middle East conflict is tipping the scales of regional influence back in the U.S.' favor, according to one analyst. "[Beijing's] role has been less pronounced than many expected, and actually I think it's undermined the sense of growing Chinese influence and confidence in the region," Julien Barnes-Dacey, director of the Middle East & North Africa program at the European Council on Foreign Relations, said on CNBC's "Street Signs" Tuesday. Last week, world leaders entreated China to use its considerable influence as a key trade partner to sway Tehran away from a direct attack against Israel, after an Israeli strike killed several top Iranian commanders in Damascus. Roughly 99% of these projectiles were eliminated by Israel, with help from the U.S., the U.K., France and Jordan. Since then, the specter of Israeli retaliation and a broader conflict in the Middle East has loomed large, with Washington stressing its commitment to Israeli defense and world leaders urging calm.

---

Persons: Julien Barnes, Dacey, Israel — Organizations: European Council, Foreign Relations, Israel Locations: U.S, Africa, China, Tehran, Israel, Damascus, Iran, Strait, Hormuz, France, Jordan, Washington