Pinoys in South Lebanon Told to Move Fast as Embassy Raises Alarm

The Philippine Embassy in Lebanon is urging Filipinos in the southern part of the country to relocate to Beirut or to northern areas after an Israeli bombing hit the Qasmiyeh bridge, a key link connecting the south to the rest of Lebanon. The warning came as tensions in the region continued to escalate.

According to the embassy advisory, movement may become harder because infrastructure is being targeted. That is why officials told Filipinos to keep their passports and iqama secure and easy to access, dahil puwedeng lumala pa ang sitwasyon on short notice.

The Manila Times reported that the strike on the bridge was tied to Israel’s campaign against Hezbollah, after the armed group allegedly fired rockets into Israel following the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in a joint US-Israel attack on Iran. The embassy’s concern is that transport routes and basic mobility could suddenly be disrupted.

There are more than 14,100 Filipinos in Lebanon as of February 2026, based on figures cited by the Department of Foreign Affairs. The embassy also renewed its appeal for Filipinos to take the voluntary repatriation program that has been open since October 2023 while commercial exit routes are still possible.

Lebanon remains under Alert Level 3, which means the government is recommending people avoid demonstrations, large gatherings, and even Lebanese government infrastructure. The embassy’s message was simple but urgent: stay indoors when possible, monitor reliable advisories, and do not wait until the danger gets worse.

Source: https://www.manilatimes.net/2026/03/24/news/ph-embassy-in-lebanon-urges-filipinos-in-the-southern-part-to-move-to-beirut/2306064