NATO chief warns of crisis, calls for immediate de-escalation in Israel-Iran conflict

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has confirmed that several member states of the alliance are actively engaged in efforts to de-escalate rising tensions in the Middle East following Israel’s recent military strikes on Iran.

Speaking at a press conference in Stockholm, Rutte addressed the gravity of the situation, emphasizing the need for a coordinated diplomatic response. His remarks were broadcast via NATO’s official website, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

Secretary General Rutte said that the situation was evolving quickly and described Israel’s strike as a unilateral action. He emphasized the urgent need for allied nations, including the United States, to initiate de-escalation efforts. Rutte noted that, to his knowledge, such steps were already in progress and stressed that de-escalation should be the top priority at this time.

To recap, in the early hours of June 13, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) initiated a large-scale military operation codenamed Rising Lion, during which the Israeli Air Force (IAF) conducted multiple waves of precision airstrikes across Iranian territory. The operation focused on military installations and components of Iran’s nuclear program.

According to initial reports, targets included key strategic sites in Tehran, where several high-ranking Iranian military officials were killed.

The attacks also resulted in the deaths of key Iranian military and scientific leaders. Among the casualties was Major General Mohammad Bagheri, Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces. General Hossein Salami, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), was also killed, a loss that the IRGC officially confirmed.

Additionally, Ali Shamkhani, Iran’s former national security chief, was reported dead, along with several other high-ranking military officers and nuclear scientists.

The strikes also impacted areas surrounding the Natanz nuclear facility and Iranian military deployments in the country’s northwest. However, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) later confirmed that neither the Natanz site nor the Fordow fuel enrichment plant sustained damage as a result of the attacks.

In response, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei addressed the nation, condemning the Israeli assault as a grave crime and warning that a “bitter and terrible fate” awaits Israel.

By Vafa Guliyeva