The Department of National Defense (DND) on Sunday said the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is prepared to assist in humanitarian and evacuation operations amid rising tensions in the Middle East.
“The DND is closely monitoring the situation in the Middle East in coordination with the DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs), DMW (Department of Migrant Workers) and other relevant agencies,” the department said in a statement.
“At the moment, the conflict is contained within the Middle East and there is no credible direct threat to our territory and Filipino and foreign citizens in the country. We urge vigilance against disinformation and condemn those who unnecessarily rouse panic during these circumstances.”
The DND emphasized that the AFP is ready to respond to probable contingencies, including repatriation support and crisis response coordination for Filipinos in affected countries, should conditions require further action.
“The protection of our nationals overseas remains a paramount concern, particularly amid rapidly evolving security developments,” it added.
In a separate statement, the AFP urged the public to remain calm, discerning, and to rely on official channels for accurate information.
“The AFP remains on standby to support the national government’s response should the situation require it. Upon directive, we are prepared to assist in humanitarian missions, evacuation efforts and potential repatriation operations for Filipinos in affected areas. Appropriate contingency measures are in place to ensure timely and coordinated action,” the military said.
The AFP stressed that “safeguarding our citizens, both overseas and domestically, remains a top priority” and vowed to sustain its readiness posture while working closely with partner agencies.
The joint US-Israel attack on Iran early Saturday targeted perceived threats from the Iranian regime, prompting retaliatory strikes by Iran and the closure of airspace across several Middle East countries, affecting thousands of flights.
According to Iranian state television and Turkish news agency Anadolu, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was reportedly killed, along with his daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter, citing Fars News Agency sources.
Initial Israeli strikes also reportedly killed and wounded numerous Iranian Revolutionary Guard personnel, including key operational staff, ISNA news agency reported.