DFA blames Israel for tensions in Levant

The Philippine government emphasized on Friday the need to adhere to international laws following the Israeli military’s possible widening of ground operations against the Hezbollah militant group. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reiterated on Friday its controversial position to blame Israel for increasing tensions in the Middle East without mentioning the terrorist attacks of Hamas, Hezbollah and Houthi militants and its backer Iran. “The Philippines expresses grave concern over the increasing tensions in the Middle East region marked by Israeli ground operations in Lebanon … We emphasize the need to adhere to international humanitarian law, especially the principles of proportionality and distinction in response to security threats and to ensure the protection of civilians at all times,” the DFA said in a statement. The DFA made no mention of the 18 Filipinos who were detained by Iran-backed Houthi terrorists and brought to the port city of Hodeihah. Hodeidah was struck by an Israeli airstrike on Sept. 24. The DFA also did not mention the hundreds of rockets and missiles that Hezbollah and Iran have launched on Israel. The Israel Defense Forces continue to find missiles in Hezbollah positions in Lebanon. —CHARIE ABARCA