FOLLOWING the death of one Thai worker in Israel and the expansion of the Middle East war with critical infrastructure too now being attacked the Thai Foreign Affairs Ministry urged all Thai citizens to immediately leave risky areas after having helped 1,209 Thais return home, Naewna newspaper said today (March 20).
Mr. Panidol Patchimsawat, the ministry’s spokesperson, said violence is escalating in the Middle East with attacks expanding from military targets to critical infrastructure. Significantly Qatar’s Ras Laffan industrial complex has been hit causing widespread damage and potentially increasing the risk to the region’s energy system. This could significantly impact the global economy and world fuel prices.
There are 35 Thai workers in the vicinity of the attacked industrial complex with the Thai embassy in Doha having contacted them and they are all in good spirits.
The Thai embassy in Tel Aviv has contacted the family of the Thai worker who died in an explosion, with the Israeli Foreign Affairs Ministry identifying him in an X.com post as Mr. Walin Chayut, 33, and is closely coordinating with the Israeli government on repatriation of his body to Thailand.
The Thai embassies in Tehran and Ankara are coordinating the evacuation of 10 more Thais from Iran, four from Bandar Abbas and six students from Qom. They are travelling overland to Turkey with the journey taking approximately 10 hours.
Meanwhile, the Thai Foreign Affairs Ministry also held a discussion with Iranian Ambassador Nassereddin Heidari on helping rescue three Thai crew members of Mayuree Naree cargo ship with the Iranian navy urged to support the humanitarian mission while allowing Thai commercial ships safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
The Iranian ambassador said his country is in the process of taking the necessary action.
Thailand also reiterated its stance calling on all parties to return to negotiation and diplomatic process and end attacks as soon as possible.
CAPTIONS:
Top – Smoke rises after reported Iranian missile attacks, following United States and Israel strikes on Iran, as seen from Doha, Qatar, on March 1, 2026. Photo: REUTERS/Mohammed Salem and published by CNA
Insert: Warin Chaiyut died in an explosion in Tel Aviv. Photo – Naewna
Front Page – Smoke and flames rise from the South Pars gas field following an Israeli strike, amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Asaluyeh, Bushehr province, Iran, on March 18, 2026, as seen from screengrabs from a social media video. Images: Reuters and published by CNA
Also read:
Anutin named PM with 293 yea votes
Anutin II cabinet to have 28 ministers under Bhumjaithai quota, 8 under Pheu Thai
Constitutional Court accepts barcode/QR code-riddled polling case
Election Commission to get sued unless senatorial rigging case forwarded to court
Yodchanan tipped to be named Pheu Thai leader
Scramble for fuel in Chiang Mai could rock tourism
Thailand to buy crude oil from Angola, US
Ministry confirms no shortage of medicines
Middle East war starting to rock tourism with focus now on Asians
