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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Metro Manila devider Filipinos working in US bases in the Gulf are at risk from retaliatory attacks - expert

Filipinos working in US bases in the Gulf are at risk from retaliatory attacks - expert

Published Jun 23, 2025 01:50 pm
Around 3,000 to 4,000 Filipinos working United States military bases in the Gulf were advised by Middle East expert Emmanuel S. Geslani to take precautionary steps in case Iran unleashes retaliatory ballistic missile strikes against US troops and numerous bases of the US Central Command in the region.
The US has an estimated 40,000 troops stationed in the Middle East, including the permanent bases located in Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, which are just across the Persian Gulf from Iran.
Al-Asad Air Base in western Iraq, which has the the largest U.S. deployment in the country, has been a frequent target of attacks. There are 2,000 Filipinos working in Western Iraq, most of them inside the Al- Assad Air Base near Bagdad and a few other FOBs (Forward Operating Bases scattered  in Norther Iraq including Erbil, Kurdistan Administrative Region.
In Bahrain, the US Navy’s 5th Fleet operates with around 8,000 personnel. Qatar hosts Al-Udeid Air Base, the forward headquarters of U.S. Central Command, which can accommodate up to 10,000 troops.
Camp Buehring, Ali al-Salem, and al-Dhafra are also key air bases located in Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates.
US diplomatic missions in Iraq and Israel have also begun evacuating staff as officials have warned embassies that theycould be targeted alongside military bases
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