Cautionary Tales from the US-Israel War on Iran

Volume 7, Issue No. 42

OPINION/COMMENTARY

/ News That Fears None, Views That Favor Nobody /

. . . . . A community service of The Filipino Web Channel (TheFilipinoWebChannel@gmail. com) and the Philippine Village Voice (PhilVoiceNews@gmail.com) for the information and understanding of Filipinos and the diverse communities in North America . . . . 

Our latest as of Tuesday, March 3, 2026 

~ The layman's view of how the war in the Middle East between the joint US-Israel forces against Iran could impact the Philippines is out there for everyone to see. Not that it would spread to the Philippines, no. When Iran retaliated against the US and Israel, it simultaneously attacked seven other countries in the region hosting US military bases. Let that cautionary tale sink in. Currently, the Philippines hosts US bases that are potential targets should there be a major confrontation between the US, against China, North Korea and Russia. 

 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  

DONALD TRUMP'S WAR VS. IRAN

The Unimaginable Consequences

of Hosting US Military Bases

 

By ROMEO P. MARQUEZ 

Editor, The Filipino Web Channel

“Never think that war, no matter how necessary, nor how justified, is not a crime.” ― Ernest Hemingway 

TORONTO - The joint attack by the United States and Israel on Iran and Iran's retaliatory bombings this past weekend are cautionary tales the Philippines, our homeland, could learn from.

When the fog of war initially cleared, Iran's supreme leader and several high-ranking Iranian officials were declared dead. In Tel Aviv, Israel's economic and technological centre, the first casualty of Iran's counter attack was a Filipino caregiver. (Video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9YJyDehHCY).

Multiple news outlets have reported that Iran also launched bombing raids on seven countries which host American military bases in the region, including Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Qatar and United Arab Emirates.

The implication of such attacks for the Philippines is clear. Bases are magnets for military intervention by countries in conflict with the US, such as China, North Korea and Russia.

It's a policy of the US to fight its wars outside the continental US, thus it maintains about 750 military bases worldwide, according to a current listing. Unverified data claims that "Japan hosts the highest number of US military bases with 14 installations, followed by the Philippines and South Korea."

Currently the Philippines allows US forces to operate in nine locations throughout its length and breadth under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) with the US.

EDCA, the government explains, is not a permanent foreign base: the Philippines owns and controls all sites under Philippine law (10-year term, renewable by mutual consent). 

However, while the Philippines permits the US to build facilities and pre-position defense equipment, aircraft, and vessels on the sites, EDCA rules out permanent basing in the country.

In March 2016, US military presence was limited to only five locations, namely: Antonio Bautista Air Base in Palawan, Cesar Basa Air Base in Pampanga, Benito Ebuen Air Base in Cebu, Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija, and Lumbia Airport in Cagayan de Oro.

The locations were expanded with the addition of four more sites in February 2023, and this includes Naval Station Narciso del Rosario in Balabac Island, Palawan; Camp Melchor F. de la Cruz in Gamu, Isabela; Lal-lo Airport in Lal-lo, Cagayan; Naval Base Camilo Osias in Santa Ana, Cagayan.

Because of these bases, the Philippines is a potential target of nuclear attacks. There are fears that recent encounters between Filipino fishermen and Chinese coastguard in the disputed South China Sea could escalate.

For its defense, the Philippines relies heavily on the US. In exchange for that protection under the so-called Mutual Defense Treaty, the US could practically do anything.

In the event of a confrontation between the US and and its enemies, the Philippines is like a sitting duck in the middle of the Pacific Ocean and the South China Sea. (Copyright 2026. All Rights Reserved).