New Delhi: India on Tuesday successfully evacuated 75 of its nationals from Syria, following the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad by rebel forces, which ended his 14-year regime.
The Indian nationals have safely reached Lebanon and will be returning to India via commercial flights, according to a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
The evacuation was executed by the Indian embassies in Damascus and Beirut after the ministry evaluated the security conditions.
“Today, the Government of India has evacuated 75 Indian nationals from Syria in light of the recent events there. Among the evacuees were 44 ‘zaireen’ from Jammu and Kashmir who were stranded at Saida Zainab,” the statement elaborated.
The government emphasized that it places utmost importance on the safety and security of Indian nationals overseas.
The MEA advised Indian nationals still in Syria to maintain contact with the Indian Embassy in Damascus through their emergency helpline number +963 993385973 (also available on WhatsApp) and email ID (hoc.damascus@mea.gov.in) for regular updates. The Government is committed to closely monitoring the situation,” the MEA added.
The Syrian government fell on Sunday when rebels took over the capital, Damascus, after overtaking several other key cities and towns. Following the capture of Damascus by the rebel faction Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), Assad left the country, ending his family’s five-decade-long rule.
According to Russian state media, Assad has arrived in Moscow and will be granted asylum. His rule, nearly 14 years long, was characterized by civil war, widespread violence, and harsh suppression of dissent.
On Monday, the MEA announced that it is keeping a close watch on the evolving situation in Syria and supports a peaceful and inclusive political resolution led by Syrians.
