New Delhi [India], June 21 (ANI): The Government of India’s Operation Sindhu has so far successfully brought back 517 Indian nationals from conflict-hit Iran, as hostilities between Israel and Iran continue to escalate. The latest batch of evacuees arrived in New Delhi early Saturday morning, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed the development in a post on X, stating, “Operation Sindhu continues. A special evacuation flight from Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, landed in New Delhi at 0300 hrs on 21st June, bringing Indians from Iran home. With this, so far 517 Indian nationals from Iran have returned home under Operation Sindhu.”
Operation Sindhu was launched in response to the rapidly deteriorating security situation in Iran, following a series of Israeli airstrikes targeting military and nuclear installations on June 13. In retaliation, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) carried out “Operation True Promise 3,” launching missile and drone attacks on Israeli infrastructure, including energy facilities and fighter jet fuel depots. The conflict has entered its ninth day, affecting not only citizens of the two nations but also foreign nationals residing in the region.
Among the evacuated individuals was Zaffar Abbas Naqvi, who shared his experience after returning safely to India. “We heard that Iran had been attacked, so we stayed indoors. Later we moved to Mashhad, which also came under attack. We contacted the Indian government, and the action was so swift that we cannot express our gratitude in words. I thank Modi ji and Yogi ji for their support,” Naqvi said.
Kulsum, another evacuee, expressed her relief and gratitude. “The situation in Iran is not good. We were very worried. The government helped us a lot and brought us back home safely,” she told ANI.
Mohammad Ali Qazim, who had traveled to Iran for a religious pilgrimage, echoed similar sentiments. “We had gone on a religious journey. The situation in Tehran was especially tense. The Indian government helped us a lot in crossing the border and returning home. The UP government also supported us by ensuring our safe return,” he said.
The evacuation has been managed through joint coordination between the Indian Embassy in Tehran and the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi. Students from Urmia Medical University were among the first to be relocated to Armenia before being flown to India. The initial group included 110 students, 90 of whom were from Kashmir.
As tensions persist in the region, both the Central and State governments remain actively involved in ensuring the safety of Indian citizens abroad. Operation Sindhu continues to serve as a vital lifeline for stranded Indians seeking refuge from the escalating conflict in Iran. (ANI)
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