Operation Sindhu: From Mashhad to Mumbai and Tel Aviv to Trivandrum, India evacuates over 4,200 citizens from Iran and Israel

NEW DELHI: As tensions flare in the Middle East, Operation Sindhu has emerged as a lifeline for thousands of its citizens stranded in conflict-hit regions. In just over a week, the ministry of external affairs (MEA) has orchestrated the evacuation of 3,426 Indians from Iran and 818 from Israel, along with several citizens of neighboring nations, through a complex multi-country airlift operation.

Launched on June 18, Operation Sindhu was tasked with bringing home Indian nationals amid growing regional instability.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, addressing a press briefing on Thursday, detailed the scale and speed of the operation. “We have around 10,000 Indian nationals in Iran and 40,000 in Israel. So far, we have mounted 14 flights from Mashhad, Yerevan (Armenia), and Ashgabat (Turkmenistan) to evacuate those in Iran,” he said.

In addition to Indian citizens, 11 OCI cardholders, 9 Nepalese nationals, several Sri Lankans, and even one Iranian spouse of an Indian national were also airlifted. A final flight from Armenia was scheduled to land Thursday evening, wrapping up the Iran leg of the evacuation.

Israel airspace closed, workarounds deployedThe evacuation from Israel posed even greater logistical challenges due to closed airspace. Indians were first moved by land to Jordan and Egypt, from where four special flights flew them back to India. Jaiswal credited the coordinated efforts of Indian embassies and expressed gratitude to Israel, Egypt, and Jordan for their swift assistance.

A diplomatic balancing actJaiswal emphasized the international cooperation behind the mission. “We are grateful to the governments of Iran, Turkmenistan, Armenia, Jordan, and Egypt. They helped us open airspace and borders to bring our people home,” he said.

Operation Sindhu joins the ranks of India’s high-profile evacuation efforts, once again showcasing the country’s ability to safeguard its diaspora amid global crises. With airlifts complete for those who opted to return, the operation may be winding down, but the applause for its precision is still soaring.