, June 22 -- The President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has cautioned that the recent U.S. strike on Iran's nuclear facilities could escalate into a far-reaching conflict, stressing that adherence to international law is a duty, not an option.

"The intensification and spread of major military operations in the Middle East risk engulfing the region - and the world - in a war with irreversible consequences," ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric said in a statement.

Spoljaric emphasized that the world cannot withstand unending warfare and reiterated the legal obligation to protect civilians during armed conflict.

"The world cannot absorb limitless war. Upholding international humanitarian law is not a choice - it is ...