Twenty-one Philippine government officials have been safely evacuated from Israel to Jordan, the Philippine Embassy in Amman confirmed on Thursday, as the intensifying conflict between Israel and Iran entered its seventh day. The diplomatic action comes amidst escalating tensions where Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has defiantly declared his nation will “never surrender” to its adversaries.

The Philippine officials, who had been in Israel for a study program, were successfully facilitated across the King Hussein Border by the Philippine Embassies in Tel Aviv and Amman, working in close coordination with Israeli and Jordanian authorities. Philippine Ambassador to Jordan Wilfredo Santos personally met the group at the border, ensuring their safe passage and providing necessary assistance, including transit visas, at no cost to the Philippine government. The group, which includes mayors, vice mayors, party-list representatives, and agricultural specialists, is expected to return to the Philippines this weekend.

The evacuation highlights the growing concerns for foreign nationals in the region as the aerial confrontation between Israel and Iran escalates. The Philippine Embassy in Amman is also preparing to receive and assist the first group of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) exiting Israel through Jordan in the coming days for repatriation. With approximately 30,000 Filipinos working in Israel, predominantly as caregivers and in the hotel industry, the safety of expatriates remains a priority for the Philippine government. The Embassy in Tel Aviv has reported 150 repatriation requests from OFWs, with 26 already being processed.

Meanwhile, Iran has vowed continued defiance. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei asserted on Wednesday that Iran would “never surrender,” following a new wave of attacks against Israel. Iran claims these attacks included the deployment of advanced Fattah hypersonic missiles and “super-heavy, long-range missiles.” An unnamed Israeli military official confirmed on Wednesday that Iran has launched approximately 400 ballistic missiles and 1,000 drones since Friday, with around 20 missiles reportedly striking civilian areas in Israel.

These latest barrages from Iran came hours after Israel claimed to have destroyed Iran’s internal security headquarters in Tehran and conducted strikes targeting missile systems and storage sites in western Iran. The conflict, which began with Israel’s surprise air campaign on Friday aimed at preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons—an ambition Tehran denies—has now entered its second week, with both nations demonstrating a hardened stance and continued military actions. Khamenei also issued a stern warning to the United States against military intervention, cautioning that any such involvement would lead to “irreparable damage.”