Thiruvananthapuram, February 28 – Amidst the rapidly escalating hostilities between Iran and Israel, the Kerala government has swiftly moved to address growing concerns regarding the safety of expatriates in West Asia. Tensions escalated after a joint US-Israel strike on Iranian targets triggered a major retaliatory missile barrage from Tehran.
Iran reportedly launched around 30 missiles at Israel in a coordinated assault, prompting the activation of the Israeli Air Force and its air defense systems.
While Israel confirmed an attempted attack, it has not disclosed the full extent of the damage.
Reports also indicated explosions in Bahrain, home to the US Fifth Fleet, suggesting that the confrontation could widen beyond Israeli territory.
Precautionary measures followed swiftly across the Gulf region. Qatar, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates announced temporary airspace closures amid heightened security alerts.
Iran has warned that US and Israeli military bases across the region could be considered potential targets, raising fears of a broader regional conflict.
The developments have triggered anxiety in Kerala, which has a substantial diaspora presence in Bahrain, the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia.
Millions of Keralites are employed across sectors such as healthcare, construction, retail, and financial services in these countries, making stability in the Gulf critical to both families and the state’s remittance-driven economy.
Responding to the situation, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has directed the Non-Resident Keralites Affairs (NORKA) Department to immediately set up a dedicated helpdesk.
The facility will monitor developments, coordinate with Indian embassies, and provide real-time assistance and advisories to expatriates and their families in Kerala.
Meanwhile, all Indian citizens have been advised to follow the instructions issued by the Indian embassies in the respective countries and the Union Ministry of External Affairs.
Officials described the move as precautionary but essential, given the rapidly evolving security landscape.
With the possibility of the conflict spreading across West Asia, Kerala’s proactive outreach reflects both humanitarian concern and economic prudence.