FORTY-FIVE overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) were repatriated on Thursday from war-torn Lebanon, according to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW).

In a Facebook post, the agency said the 45 OFWs and two children were aboard Kuwait Airways 417 from Beirut.

This batch is one of the biggest groups the DMW has assisted through voluntary repatriation since fighting erupted in the Middle Eastern country in late 2023, it said in a separate Viber message to BusinessWorld.

The 45 repatriated Filipinos were on top of 480 OFWs and a total of 30 dependents who have been sent home due to the fighting, based on DMW data.

The Middle East has been facing increased tensions attack of Hamas in Israel since Oct. 7, 2023.

Hezbollah, a Lebanese militant group in support of Palestine, has been launching a series of attack against Israel to show support.

As a result, the Israel Defense Forces retaliated by also launching attacks against Lebanon. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana