US-Iran Clashes Escalate, Government Prepares Mitigation Steps for Indonesian Migrant Workers

The war between the United States and Iran has heated up once again. Minister for the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (P2MI) Mukhtarudin has urged Indonesian migrant workers (PMI) in the Middle East to remain on alert at all times.

“Yes, those in Iran — yesterday we were in the midst of coordination. Coordination with the Indonesian Embassy (KBRI), and then with the Foreign Ministry. Because this must involve the authorities of another country, everything must be procedural and in accordance with our diplomatic relations with Iran,” said Mukhtarudin after a meeting with Commission IX of the House of Representatives (DPR) at the DPR building in Senayan, Jakarta, on Friday (17/7/2026).

The government, he said, has prepared anticipatory measures for Indonesian migrant workers in the Middle East following the rising escalation in the region. He also asked migrant workers there to heighten their vigilance.

“God willing, so far the United Arab Emirates has also issued a kind of warning regarding the situation in the Middle East, which is currently not good, with the escalation increasing. Particularly in Abu Dhabi and its surroundings, the Indonesian Embassy has issued an announcement calling for vigilance and preparedness for any eventuality,” he said.

“In principle, the government has coordinated by preparing anticipatory steps should something extraordinary occur that would require a large-scale evacuation or large-scale handling of Indonesian citizens there, which would also include migrant workers across the Middle East region in general,” he added.

Earlier, the United States launched fresh attacks overnight targeting an airport, a railway station and two bridges in Iran. The attacks killed three people.

According to AFP on Friday (17/7/2026), Iranian state media reported that US strikes on two bridges in Hormozgan Province killed three people, with nine others reported injured. The figure rose from an earlier report of two dead and four wounded.

“Three explosions were heard around the airport, and at least one American enemy projectile struck Iranshahr airport in the southeast,” the state broadcaster IRIB said on Telegram.

The US also launched an attack on an Iranian railway station. The strike left two people injured.