Manila: The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced that it is closely monitoring the situation in Iran, where over 1,000 Filipinos reside, following a military strike by Israel on Tehran. This strike has raised concerns about potential retaliation and the possibility of a broader regional conflict.

According to Philippines News Agency, DFA Undersecretary Eduardo Jose De Vega stated that Filipino authorities are deliberating on possible measures, including issuing new advisories in both Iran and Israel. "We are discussing it and awaiting the update from our embassy in Tehran," De Vega mentioned in a text message.

In an interview with PTV's "Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon," De Vega urged affected Filipinos to seek assistance from the Philippine embassies in Tehran and Tel Aviv. He assured, "They can rest assured that our foreign service posts will assist them. It's just a bit complicated in the case of Filipinos who are already Iranian citizens in Iran."

The latest data from the DFA indicates that there are 30,742 Filipinos in Israel and at least 1,180 in Iran, many of whom are married to Iranian nationals.

The situation escalated after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed the launch of "Operation Rising Lion," a targeted military operation intended to curtail what he described as the Iranian threat to Israel's survival. Israel has accused Iran of advancing its nuclear weapon program by producing large quantities of enriched uranium.

Netanyahu emphasized that the military operation will persist "for as many days as it takes" to neutralize threats to Israel. The Israel Defense Forces later confirmed that key Iranian military figures, including the chief of staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and the commander of Iran's Emergency Command, were killed in the strikes.