In a swift and strategic move under Operation Sindhu, India has evacuated nearly 3,000 of its nationals from conflict-hit Iran and Israel. The evacuation, coordinated by the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Air Force (IAF), marks one of the largest recent rescue operations carried out by India in West Asia.
Utilizing IAF’s C-17 heavy-lift aircraft, over 600 Indian citizens were airlifted after being safely transported by road from Israel to neighboring countries Egypt and Jordan. The first group of 161 Indians reached New Delhi from Amman, Jordan, early Tuesday morning. The arrival was acknowledged at the airport by Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita.
Shortly after, another group of 165 Indians was flown from Amman in an IAF C-17 and welcomed by Minister of State L. Murugan. Additionally, nearly 300 Indian nationals who crossed into Egypt via the Taba land border were evacuated from Sharm-el-Sheikh on a separate C-17 flight. These efforts were slightly delayed due to temporary airspace restrictions in the region following Iranian missile strikes late Monday.
Meanwhile, India continued its evacuation efforts in Iran, with a chartered flight from Mashhad bringing home 292 Indians to New Delhi at around 3:30 a.m. on Tuesday. This brings the total number of Indians rescued from Iran to 2,295 within a week. The evacuations began after special diplomatic efforts led to temporary relaxation of Iranian airspace restrictions.
According to official sources, over 32,000 Indians currently reside in Israel, many of whom work as caregivers or construction workers, while Iran is home to around 10,000 Indian nationals, including students and pilgrims. India had earlier advised its citizens in Israel to move towards land border crossings into Egypt or Jordan for easier access to evacuation flights.
The Indian embassy in Tehran confirmed that all Indian nationals currently in Iran will be safely evacuated. Many Indians in Iran had been temporarily relocated to Armenia by road before being flown out.
The success of Operation Sindhu underscores India’s commitment to protecting its diaspora and highlights its preparedness to respond swiftly in crisis situations across the globe.
