Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 18) – The Philippine government has advised Filipinos living close to Lebanon’s southern border to evacuate as clashes rise between Israeli forces and militant group Hezbollah.
The exchanges of gunfire erupted again when Iran-backed Hezbollah launched an attack on Israeli army posts and a village on Israel’s northern border. Tension between the two sides had been relatively dormant since 2006.
“Due to the persistent tension in Lebanon’s southern border, posing a significant threat to the safety and security of civilian residents, the Philippine Embassy urges all Filipino nationals close to the border to evacuate preemptively to ensure their well-being and security,” read the advisory issued by the embassy on Tuesday.
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The embassy also reminded Filipinos to avoid non-essential travel to south Lebanon and to contact the embassy to update their situation.
The Department of Foreign Affairs has yet to provide the number of Filipinos in Lebanon’s southern border. In a radio interview, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo Jose de Vega said fewer than 100 Filipinos live in northern Israel.
