Egypt has issued a sharp rebuke of Israel’s recent military action against Iran, warning that the escalation poses a serious threat to regional peace and could destabilize the broader Middle East.
In an official statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cairo described the June 13 airstrikes as a “flagrant breach of international law and the UN Charter.” The statement expressed Egypt’s “deep concern” over what it called a reckless act that “could ignite a wider conflict across the region.”
“Military solutions will not secure peace for any country, including Israel,” the ministry stressed, urging all parties to pursue political and peaceful means instead. It added that genuine security is only attainable by respecting sovereignty, upholding territorial integrity, delivering justice, and ending the Israeli occupation of Arab lands.
The condemnation follows an Israeli military campaign targeting Iranian nuclear facilities and key military sites. According to Israel’s army, more than 200 fighter jets carried out coordinated strikes on over 100 locations, as part of what it called a “preemptive strike” on Iran’s nuclear program.
The attack resulted in dozens of fatalities, including senior Iranian military leaders and nuclear scientists. Among those confirmed dead were Major General Mohammad Bagheri, Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, and Major General Gholam Ali Rashid, commander at Iran’s Khatam-al Anbiya Headquarters. The head of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Hossein Salami, was also killed.
Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that six nuclear scientists were among the victims, including Fereydoun Abbasi, the former head of the Atomic Energy Organization, and Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi, a prominent physicist and university president. Civilian casualties, including women and children, were also reported.
International reaction has been swift. Several countries, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Lebanon, and Oman—the latter a key mediator in Iran-U.S. nuclear talks—have condemned the strikes. In response to the rising tensions, multiple airlines have suspended flights to and from both Iran and Israel.
As the risk of further escalation looms, Egypt reiterated its call for de-escalation and dialogue, warning that continued violence could plunge the region into deeper chaos.