Filipinos in the Middle East urged to limit movement after US-Israel attack on Iran

Filipinos in the Middle East have been urged to limit their movement and to exercise caution as Iran has bombarded United States bases in different territories. The Iranian strikes are in retaliation for the US-Israel jointattacks on Tehran and other targeted locations.

According to the Philippine News Agency, Philippine Embassies in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon and Jordan have already warned Filipinos to be cautious as the exchange of hostilities has intensified between Iran and the US-Israel alliance.

Read: US and Israel launch strikes in Iran

naU

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has directed the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) to ensure the safety of Filipinos in the Gulf region.

In a post on X, Marcos said, “I have instructed the DFA and the DMW to take measures to determine their whereabouts in affected areas and to take immediate measures to ensure their safety. In the meantime, the safety of Filipino citizens in Iran and in the Middle East is paramount.”

DFA Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro conveyed the Philippine government’s concern over the escalation of hostilities and that the governments “resort immediately” to dialogue and negotiations.

The DFA added that no Filipinos have yet been affected or harmed in the strikes, and that the Philippine embassies in Tehran, Iran and Tel Aviv, Israel are also “on full alert.” 

Several airspaces, including Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, UAE and Qatar, have been closed according to Flightradar24. Hundreds of flights have also been cancelled. Explosions were reported in Abu Dhabi and Dubai in UAE, Manama in Bahrain, and Kuwait.

Read:Travel chaos grips Middle East after air strikes of US, Israel on Iran

The United States and Israel have blamed Iran's nuclear program for their preemptive strike, which triggered retaliatory strikes from Iran.