Thousands of drivers of public transport vehicles in the Philippines began a two-day strike on Tuesday to protest soaring fuel prices, which transport workers' union Piston blames on the US-Israel war on Iran. The government has deployed police and buses to provide free rides for commuters, though national police stated the strike had not caused significant disruption in the capital region. Protesters are demanding fuel prices be cut to 55 pesos ($0.88) a litre, the level before the conflict began in February.