The Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv on Saturday urged Filipinos in Israel to remain indoors and be ready to seek shelter as regional tensions sharply escalated following a series of Israeli and United States strikes against Iran.
The advisory came as the Israel Defense Force said it was preparing for the possibility of missile launches toward Israeli territory, prompting authorities to place the country under “essential activity status.” Under the alert level, classes were suspended nationwide and public gatherings were prohibited.
“Mariing hinihikayat ng Embahada ang lahat ng Pilipino sa Israel na manatili sa loob ng kanilang mga tahanan at dapat maging handang pumasok sa mamada o shelter tuwing may urgent alert,” the embassy said, strongly advising Filipinos to stay inside their homes and immediately move to shelters whenever emergency warnings are issued.
The embassy also reminded Filipinos who may need assistance that its 24/7 emergency hotline remains active at +972 54 466 1188.
The heightened alert followed Israel’s announcement of a preemptive strike against Iran, shortly before US President Donald Trump confirmed that the United States had begun what he described as a “major combat operation” targeting Iranian facilities.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump accused Iran of attempting to rebuild its nuclear program and advance its long-range missile capabilities, saying these developments could threaten US allies in Europe, American troops stationed overseas, and eventually the US homeland itself.
Anadolu News Agency reported that air raid sirens sounded across Israel as explosions rocked Tehran, with thick plumes of smoke rising over parts of the Iranian capital.
Iranian officials responded with sharp warnings. “We warned you! Now you have started down a path which end is no longer in your control,” Ebrahim Azizi, head of Iran’s parliament National Security Committee, wrote in a post on X, underscoring the risk of further escalation in the region.