By: Christian Lagrimas, Sophia Pacheco
In this screen grab obtained on February 28, 2026 from video released by the US Central Command on their X account @CENTCOM shows the Arleigh Burke class guided-missile-destroyer, USS Spruance (DDG 111), firing Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles in support of Operation Epic Fury, from an undisclosed location on February 28, 2026.
Philippine groups on Sunday, March 1, 2026, condemned the recent attacks by the United States (US) and Israel against Iran, as the Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv urged Filipinos in Israel to remain vigilant following rising tensions in the Middle East that have left one Filipino dead.
Various organizations, including Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), Akbayan, and Gabriela, denounced the strikes, calling them a violation of international law and warning of a possible wider conflict in the region.
"This assault is nothing short of a state-sponsored terror attack that poses a grave risk of escalating into a full-scale regional conflict and triggering a global humanitarian catastrophe," Akbayan said on Sunday.
In separate statements, the groups criticized the military actions and expressed concern over their impact on civilians, including overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in affected areas.
The developments came as the Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv issued an advisory urging Filipinos in Israel to monitor security updates and follow official guidance.
The embassy said it is closely monitoring the situation and advised Filipinos to remain inside their homes and be ready to enter shelters when alerts are sounded.
“The Embassy strongly encourages all Filipinos in Israel to remain inside their homes and be prepared to enter a shelter whenever an urgent alert is sounded,” the advisory stated.
Filipinos were also told to monitor real-time updates from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Home Front Command.
The advisory followed confirmation of the first Filipino fatality linked to the ongoing conflict. Mary Ann Velasquez de Vera, a caregiver, died from shrapnel wounds while helping her elderly employer move to a bomb shelter during an attack.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has directed the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) to ensure the safety of Filipinos in the region.
In a briefing after the latest wave of strikes, Presidential spokesperson Claire Castro said the President issued a standing directive for the DFA and DMW to maintain a 24-hour watch on the situation and assist affected Filipinos.
There are more than 2.2 million OFWs worldwide, including many deployed in the Middle East. Philippine authorities said they are continuing to monitor developments and coordinate with concerned agencies to safeguard Filipinos abroad.
Progressive organizations in the Philippines have called on the government to take a clear stance against the US-Israel attacks on Iran.
"Further, we strongly urge the Philippine government to join the international community in demanding an immediate ceasefire and a return to the negotiating table," it also said, referring to nuclear talks abruptly cut by the attacks.
Partido Manggagawa similarly called for a formal condemnation of the military strikes, rejecting claims that they were “preemptive.”
US President Donald Trump said Saturday, Feb. 28, that the strikes were intended to target Iran’s military and government. In a message to the Iranian people, he added, “When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take.”
Bayan, expressing solidarity with the Iranian people, reiterated its opposition to expanded US military presence in the Philippines.
It said these "[transform] our nation into a forward staging ground" for "broader US geopolitical objectives across Asia and beyond."