India evacuated 75 of its nationals from Syria on Tuesday, two days after rebel forces overthrew President Bashar al-Assad's authoritarian government, said the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Wednesday.
The evacuation was undertaken amid a rapidly deteriorating security situation in the country post the collapse of the Assad regime. The MEA confirmed the successful operation as the evacuees crossed over to Lebanon, adding that they would be coming back to India in the near future through commercial flights.
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," the MEA said in an official statement.
The country's embassies in Damascus and Beirut coordinated the operation. They gave priority to their citizen's safety and security as the nation remained highly unstable. "The Government of India accords the highest priority to the safety and security of Indian nationals abroad," the statement added.
The MEA also asked Indian nationals still residing in Syria to stay updated with the Embassy in Damascus. They were requested to reach out through the helpline number (+963 993385973) and/or email ([email protected]).
The situation in Syria escalated rapidly after rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) seized control of Damascus, marking the end of Bashar al-Assad’s nearly 14-year rule and the Assad family’s five-decade dominance. Assad fled the country and reportedly sought asylum in Russia.
Reacting to the situation, MEA earlier termed for peaceful and inclusive political change in Syria. "India will remain closely observing developments and encourage a transition to be owned by the people of Syria," it had said.
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