The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Friday that India successfully evacuated 4,415 Indian nationals from Iran and Israel under Operation Sindhu, a large-scale mission launched in response to rising tensions in West Asia.
The operation included 19 special evacuation flights, with 3,597 Indians evacuated from Iran and 818 from Israel, along with 14 OCI card-holders, 9 Nepali nationals, 4 Sri Lankans, and 1 Iranian spouse of an Indian citizen.
As regional tensions escalated, India launched Operation Sindhu on June 18, aiming to rescue citizens stranded in volatile zones.
Indian diplomatic missions in Tehran, Yerevan, and Ashgabat coordinated the overland movement of Indian nationals from Iran into Armenia and Turkmenistan, paving the way for air evacuations.
Special evacuation flights began operating on June 18, flying Indians home from these neighbouring countries.
The majority of the Iran evacuations took place via Mashhad, after Iran agreed to open its airspace for evacuation flights on June 20 at India’s request.
From June 18 to 26, India flew back 3,597 citizens from Iran, including people from over 15 states.
The evacuees returned via 15 flights from Yerevan, Ashgabat, and Mashhad.
“We thank the Government of Iran for facilitating this critical operation,” the MEA said in its official statement.
India initiated the Israel leg of Operation Sindhu on June 23, with Indian missions in Tel Aviv, Ramallah, Amman, and Cairo coordinating cross-border movements.
A total of 818 Indian nationals, including students and professionals, were evacuated via Amman and Sharm el-Sheikh.
The MEA used four flights, including three IAF C-17s, from June 22 to 25 to evacuate citizens.
“The Government of India is deeply committed to the safety and well-being of its citizens abroad,” the MEA stated, crediting the success of Operation Sindhu to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.
The ministry also extended its gratitude to the governments of Iran, Israel, Jordan, Egypt, Armenia, and Turkmenistan for their cooperation.
With Iran’s airspace reopened, the MEA announced a halt to evacuation operations on June 25. The ministry added that further actions will depend on how the situation evolves in the West Asia region.
Indian embassies will keep monitoring the situation and stay in touch with local authorities and the diaspora.
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