Iran-Israel conflict escalates: 15 West Java citizens evacuated from Middle East
As many as 15 Indonesian citizens from West Java have been evacuated from the Middle East following the conflict between Iran and Israel-America. The Indonesian government has repatriated a total of 34 citizens to date.
“Preliminary data from the 34 Indonesian citizens who returned to Indonesia includes 15 from West Java,” stated Adi Komar, head of the West Java Communications and Information Office (Diskominfo), on Friday, 13 March 2026.
Regarding enquiries through the West Java hotline, he noted that approximately 80 people had made contact. Komar stated that those who had submitted repatriation requests were pressing for immediate return to Indonesia.
“Praise be to God, the process is gradual. I am confident that the repatriation of Indonesian citizens from the Middle East falls under the purview of the central government, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and various ministries,” he said.
He noted that his office was still awaiting further information regarding subsequent waves of evacuations of Indonesian citizens from the Middle East. His office could not yet confirm the districts of origin of the 15 West Java citizens who had returned.
Global geopolitical tensions escalated sharply following the outbreak of open conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran on 28 February 2026. The major military operations launched by Washington alongside Tel Aviv not only triggered retaliatory strikes from Tehran but also drew the Middle East region into a crisis with potential to destabilise global stability.
The initial strikes launched by the United States and Israel targeted various strategic military facilities in Iran, including missile and nuclear programme installations. The operations proceeded with intense pace, involving hundreds of airstrikes within a short timeframe directed at military infrastructure and Iran’s political leadership.
The Realities of Algorithmic Warfare research institute at Utrecht University reported that in the first four days of operations, the number of attacks on Iran was equivalent to the total strikes conducted over six months of the military campaign against ISIS in Iraq and Syria. The strikes killed several prominent Iranian figures, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, and caused significant civilian casualties, including more than 150 schoolgirls.