The Indian Embassy in Iran has said that it will make efforts to evacuate citizens of Nepal and Sri Lanka. The embassy noted that these efforts will be made at the request of the Governments of Nepal and Sri Lanka.
“On request of the Governments of Nepal and Sri Lanka, the Indian Embassy’s evacuation efforts in Iran will also cover citizens of Nepal and Sri Lanka,” the Indian Embassy in Iran posted on X.
The Indian government has launched Operation Sindhu to evacuate Indian nationals from Iran, given the deteriorating situation as a result of the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel.
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on Saturday that, so far, 517 Indian nationals have returned to India from Iran under Operation Sindhu.
Jaiswal stated that a special flight from Turkmenistan’s Ashgabat carrying Indians from Iran arrived in New Delhi on June 21.
In a post on X, Jaiswal stated: “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.”
The conflict between Israel and Iran entered its ninth day on Saturday. The conflict began after Israel, on June 13, launched a massive airstrike on Iranian military and nuclear sites, dubbed “Operation Rising Lion.”
In response, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched a large-scale drone and missile operation, “Operation True Promise 3,” targeting Israeli fighter jet fuel production facilities and energy supply centres.
This is not the first time the Indian government has launched an operation to evacuate citizens from another country. In 2023, India launched Operation Kaveri to evacuate its citizens during violent military clashes in Sudan. Operation Ajay was launched in 2023 to evacuate Indian nationals from Israel during the Israel-Hamas conflict. Operation Ganga was launched in 2022 to evacuate Indian nationals when war erupted between Russia and Ukraine.
In 2021, the Indian government launched Operation Devi Shakti to evacuate citizens from Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover. Operation Samudra Setu was launched in 2020 to evacuate Indians via sea during the COVID-19 pandemic. Operation Raahat was conducted in 2015 to evacuate citizens amid the civil conflict in Yemen. In 2011, India launched Operation Safe Homecoming to bring home nationals during the Libyan civil war amid the Arab Spring.
(ANI)