Second Filipino Killed in Middle East Conflict as Missile Hits Haifa Home
Manila— The Philippines confirmed on Tuesday that a second national has been killed in the ongoing Middle East conflict after a missile struck a residential building in Haifa, where the victim lived with her Israeli family.
The Department of Foreign Affairs said the woman died on Sunday “alongside her Israeli husband and elderly parents-in-law” when the home was hit. Israeli rescue services reported recovering four bodies from the rubble following the strike, which was attributed to an Iranian missile attack.
Local media identified the Filipino victim by her given name, Lucille-Jean, stating that she and her family were pulled from the collapsed residence after hours of rescue operations.
The Philippine embassy in Tel Aviv has notified the victim’s relatives and is coordinating assistance, including efforts to repatriate her remains despite ongoing travel disruptions in the region.
The death marks the second confirmed Filipino fatality since hostilities escalated following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran in late February. Mary Ann Velasquez De Vera, a 32-year-old caregiver, was killed on March 1 while attempting to bring her elderly ward to a bomb shelter.
The conflict has placed an estimated two million Filipinos living and working across the Middle East at risk, many of whom are employed as domestic workers or in maritime roles. The Philippines relies heavily on remittances sent home by overseas workers, making the situation a growing concern for authorities in Manila.
Thousands of Filipino seafarers remain stranded amid heightened risks in the Strait of Hormuz, where shipping activity has been severely disrupted. Philippine officials said Iran had pledged to allow safe passage for Filipino vessels and crew, though no clear timeline has been provided.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump reiterated warnings that the United States could target Iranian infrastructure if tensions continue to escalate, as diplomatic efforts to secure a ceasefire remain unresolved.
