India has evacuated 75 nationals from Syria, following the ousting of Bashar al-Assad’s regime by rebel forces led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. All Indian nationals have safely crossed over to Lebanon and will return by available commercial flights to India, said the MEA.
Evacuees To Return Soon
The Ministry of External Affairs in its press release said, “The Government of India today evacuated 75 Indian nationals from Syria, following recent developments in that country. The evacuees included 44 ‘zaireen’ from Jammu & Kashmir who were stranded at Saida Zainab. All Indian nationals have safely crossed over to Lebanon and will return by available commercial flights to India.”
It further stated that the evacuation, coordinated by the Indian embassies in Damascus and Beirut, was carried out following an assessment of the security situation and requests from Indian nationals in Syria.
The Ministry added, “The evacuation, coordinated by the embassies of India in Damascus and Beirut, was put into effect following our assessment of the security situation and requests from Indian nationals in Syria.”
The Indian government accords the highest priority to the safety and security of Indian nationals abroad, the press release stated.
Furthermore, the ministry also advised the Indian nationals in Syria to remain in touch with the Indian Embassy in Damascus.
“Indian nationals remaining in Syria are advised to stay in touch with the Indian Embassy in Damascus at their emergency helpline number +963 993385973 (also on WhatsApp) and email ID (hoc.damascus@mea.gov.in) for updates,” the statement stated.
The Government will continue to monitor the situation closely asserted the External Affairs Ministry.
Press release: Evacuation of Indian Nationals from Syria ⬇️https://t.co/7bESmhpKK2
— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) December 10, 2024
Govt Closely Monitors The Situation
Earlier, the Indian government had issued a travel advisory for Syria on Friday. It had advised Indian nationals to avoid all travel to the country until further notice. This advisory comes in light of the prevailing situation in Syria, which poses significant risks to travelers.
The situation in Syria remains a focal point for neighboring countries after Syrian rebels entered the capital, Damascus, on Sunday, forcing President Assad to flee and ending his over two-decade rule.
Reportedly, Russia has granted asylum to Assad and his family.
