Vietnamese diplomatic missions in the Gulf have confirmed no Vietnamese casualties or property damage amid the escalating conflict in the Middle East, which observers warn could evolve into a broader regional war.

Vietnamese embassies in the Gulf on February 28 issued urgent notices advising Vietnamese citizens there to limit non-essential travel and avoid security-sensitive locations to ensure their safety.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has just concluded his first official tour of the Gulf region, with stops in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) — Berlin’s leading partners in the region.