India to evacuate citizens of Nepal, Sri Lanka from war-hit Iran
The Indian Embassy in Iran has said that the embassy will make efforts to evacuate citizens of Nepal and Sri Lanka. The embassy noted that the efforts will be made at the request of the Governments of Nepal and Sri Lanka. Indian students reach an airport to board a flight from Armenia to New Delhi, under Operation Sindhu facilitated by the Government of India in view of the Israel-Iran conflict. (Randhir Jaiswal - X)
"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 started 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.
It is pertinent to note here that it is not the first time that the Indian government has launched an operation to evacuate citizens from another country. Earlier in 2023, India launched Operation Kaveri to evacuate its citizens during violent military clashes in Sudan.
India had launched Operation Ajay to evacuate Indian nationals from Israel during the Israel-Hamas conflict in 2023. Operation Ganga was launched by the Indian government in 2022 to evacuate Indian nationals when war erupted between Russia and Ukraine.
Earlier in 2021, the Indian government launched Operation Devi Shakti to evacuate Indian citizens from Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover. India launched Operation Samudra Setu to evacuate Indians through the sea during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
India launched Operation Raahat to evacuate citizens after civil conflict erupted in Yemen in 2015. Earlier in 2011, India launched Operation Safe Homecoming to evacuate Indian nationals during the civil war in the Arab Spring in Libya.
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