Nine Filipino seafarers stranded in Lebanon have safely returned to the Philippines after being affected by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, according to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW).

They arrived in the country aboard Emirates Flight EK 332 after being stranded in Lebanon for several months.

The seafarers, who are part of the crew of M/V Hawk III, remained unable to return home after their ship was detained in October 2025 and was subsequently caught in the worsening tensions and armed conflict in the region.

Upon their arrival in the country, the repatriated Filipino seafarers were welcomed by representatives from the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), and their manning agency to provide them with airport assistance and immediate support.

They will also receive post-arrival assistance and other services that will help them recover after what they have gone through.

Flight details for eleven other seafarers are currently awaiting confirmation for their repatriation to the country.

The repatriation was successful through the coordination of the DMW, OWWA, the Migrant Workers Office (MWO) in Lebanon, and the Philippine Embassy in Beirut.

Meanwhile, the DMW assured OFWs and their families that repatriation efforts continue amid renewed tensions in the Middle East

As of July, the agency reported that 10,580 migrant workers, overseas Filipinos, and their dependents have been safely repatriated from conflict-affected areas. This includes the latest group of 50 repatriates from Kuwait who arrived in the Philippines this week.