MANILA — Eleven overseas Filipinos (OFWs) have been safely evacuated from Iran to Van, Turkey amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced.

The successful evacuation was coordinated by the Philippine embassies in Tehran and Ankara, and the 11 OFWs are scheduled to return to the Philippines in the coming days.

“The DFA, through the Philippine Embassy in Tehran, remains committed to assisting the estimated 800 Filipinos currently residing in Iran who may wish to return to the Philippines,” the department said.

Filipinos seeking assistance are advised to contact the embassy via official channels and the contact numbers posted on its website and social media pages.

According to government data, 1,979 Filipinos in nine Middle Eastern countries have expressed a desire to be repatriated, with Kuwait having the highest number at 633. However, airspace in the region remains closed due to ongoing conflict.

The tensions intensified after the United States and Israel launched joint military operations against Iran, with Iran responding with missile strikes toward Israel. The Pentagon has officially termed the U.S. operations “Operation Epic Fury.”