Summary of Press Briefing

at the Joint Management and Monitoring Center for the Situation in the Middle East

by Mr. Panidone Pachimsawat, Acting Director-General of the Department of Information
and Deputy MFA Spokesperson

on 23 March 2026 at 11.05 hrs. at the Government House

1. Developments on the Situation in the Middle East

• The situation in the Middle East has further escalated. The main parties to the conflict, including Hezbollah, continue to exchange attacks. There have also been attacks against Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.
  
  
• The cities of Dimona and Arad in Israel have been under attack. At this stage, there have been no reports of Thai nationals affected by these incidents.
  
  
• The situation in the Strait of Hormuz remains tense. There have been warnings regarding potential attacks on energy infrastructure and information systems.
  
  
• As the situation remains uncertain, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs again urges Thai nationals to consider leaving high-risk areas as soon as possible and to closely follow updates and guidance through the official communication channels of the Royal Thai Embassies and Consulates-General responsible for their respective areas. Thai nationals are also encouraged to register their residence and contact information with the relevant Embassies and Consulates-General.
  
  

2. Updates on Assistance to Thai Nationals in the Area

• The Department of Consular Affairs, through the Temporary Passport Office in Nakhon Ratchasima, will travel to Chaiyaphum Province to visit and offer support to the family of the Thai workers killed in the recent explosion incident on 24 March 2026. In addition, the Royal Thai Embassy in Tel Aviv is coordinating with relevant agencies and El Al Airlines to arrange for the repatriation of the deceased.
  
  
• The Royal Thai Embassy in Tehran and the Royal Thai Embassy in Ankara are in the process of evacuating four Thai workers from a shrimp farm in Bandar Abbas, Iran. They are scheduled to depart overland today (23 March 2026), cross into Türkiye, and then take a flight back to Thailand.
  
  
• Thai nationals in the Middle East are urged to follow official updates closely, regularly assess their safety, and strictly adhere to official advisories.
  
  
• A total of 1,479 Thai nationals have been assisted in departing from the Middle East to Thailand or to third countries.
  
  
• The Thai Government remains committed to assisting Thai nationals affected by the conflict to safely leave dangerous areas at the earliest opportunity.