Philippine embassies across the Middle East are on heightened alert after the United States and Israel launched strikes against Iran, prompting retaliatory Iranian attacks on countries hosting American military bases in the region.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. directed the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Migrant Workers on Saturday to locate Filipinos in affected areas and take immediate steps to secure their welfare. “The safety of Filipino citizens in Iran and in the Middle East is paramount,” Marcos said in a statement posted on X, adding that both agencies had been instructed “to take measures to determine their whereabouts in affected areas and to take immediate measures to ensure their safety.”
The DFA said no Filipino has so far been reported harmed or affected by the hostilities. Embassies, it added, “stand ready to assist our nationals,” while urging Filipinos to stay home and avoid public spaces for now.
An estimated 30,000 Filipino workers — the majority of them caregivers — are currently in Israel, while roughly 1,000 Filipinos are in Iran. The Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv had already advised nationals to shelter in place and prepare to move to designated safe rooms in anticipation of Iranian counter-strikes.
In Kuwait, the embassy echoed that guidance: “Please stay home or in a secure place. Avoid unnecessary trips or movements. Make sure your mobile phones and devices are always charged.” It also cautioned Filipinos against sharing unverified information and told them to rely solely on official sources.
The Philippine mission in the United Arab Emirates similarly urged the Filipino community to stay calm, monitor advisories from the UAE government, and shelter immediately if any unusual incident occurs.
US President Donald Trump announced the American military action in a social media video, saying Washington had conducted major combat operations against Iran over what he called Tehran’s continued pursuit of a nuclear program. Trump also called on ordinary Iranians to wrest control from their government.
