New Delhi [India], June 26 (ANI): The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday announced the successful evacuation of 3,426 Indian nationals from Iran and 818 from Israel under Operation Sindhu, an initiative launched on June 18 to ensure the safe return of Indian citizens amid escalating regional tensions.
Addressing a weekly press briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal detailed the scale and coordination involved in the operation. “We launched Operation Sindhu on the 18th of June. We have around 10,000 people from the Indian community in Iran and around 40,000 Indian nationals in Israel,” he stated.
Providing a breakdown of the Iran evacuations, Jaiswal said, “From Iran, we have so far evacuated 3,426 Indian nationals, 11 OCI cardholders, 9 Nepalese nationals, and some Sri Lankan nationals as well. One Iranian national, the spouse of an Indian citizen, was also among those brought back.” A total of 14 flights were deployed for the evacuation effort, operating from Mashhad, Yerevan (Armenia), and Ashgabat (Turkmenistan).
“One more flight is currently en route from Armenia and will land later this evening. With that, we will have completed the evacuation of all those who wished to return from Iran,” Jaiswal added.
In Israel, due to the closure of airspace, Indian nationals were first transported to neighboring Jordan and Egypt, from where four special flights repatriated a total of 818 Indian citizens. “We are thankful to the governments of Egypt and Jordan for this support,” he said.
The MEA emphasized the crucial role of Indian embassies in Israel, Jordan, and Egypt, which worked in close coordination with the ministry headquarters in New Delhi to mount the complex, multi-country operation.
Jaiswal also extended India’s gratitude to Iran, Turkmenistan, and Armenia for their cooperation. “We made a request, and Iran opened their airspace to allow evacuation flights. We are grateful for this special gesture,” he noted.
Operation Sindhu stands as a testament to India’s commitment to the safety of its citizens abroad and showcases the effectiveness of coordinated diplomatic and logistical efforts during a crisis. (ANI)
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