India Issues Travel Warning for Citizens Amid Rising Violence in Syria
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New Delhi, Dec 7 (NationPress) On Friday, India issued a travel warning urging all its citizens to refrain from visiting Syria in light of the escalating violence and turmoil in the Middle Eastern nation.
"Given the ongoing situation in Syria, Indian nationals are advised to avoid all travel to Syria until further notice," stated the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in its advisory.
The Ministry also encouraged stranded Indian citizens to depart via the earliest available commercial flights.
Additionally, the MEA provided an emergency helpline number and email address for Indian citizens to reach out to the Indian Embassy in Damascus.
"Indians currently in Syria are requested to maintain contact with the Indian Embassy in Damascus at their emergency helpline number +963 993385973," the MEA advised.
Previously, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal mentioned that India is closely monitoring the situation in Syria as well as in South Korea, with Indian missions in both countries remaining vigilant regarding the safety of Indian nationals.
The MEA confirmed that approximately 90 Indian nationals are currently residing in Syria, including 14 individuals working with UN organizations.
Jaiswal reassured that the Indian mission is keeping in touch with its citizens in Syria to guarantee their safety.
"We are closely observing the situation. Our mission is in constant communication with our nationals for their safety and security," Jaiswal stated.
The renewed violence from Syrian rebels has reignited the civil war, which had been quiet for several years.
Rebel groups have recently seized control of Hama and are advancing into Homs, posing a threat to divide the territories controlled by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Since the conflict began in 2011, over 300,000 civilians have lost their lives, with millions displaced throughout the region, as reported by the UN.
Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, leader of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) rebel faction, mentioned that the aim of the offensive is to terminate Assad's regime.
"When we discuss objectives, the goal of the revolution remains the overthrow of this regime. It is our right to use every available means to achieve this goal," Jolani told CNN during an interview.
The HTS, rooted in the Syrian branch of AlQaeda, leads the rebel coalition but has attempted to present a more moderate image in recent years.
The rebels initiated their offensive on the same day a ceasefire took effect in neighboring Lebanon amidst the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.
In light of the rebels' progress, tens of thousands of members of Assad's Alawite minority have begun fleeing Homs, as reported by residents and the Observatory.
Homs had previously experienced a prolonged army siege of rebel-held areas as well as deadly sectarian violence during the early years of the civil war.
