India Rescues 75 Citizens from Syria Following Rebel Takeover of Assad Regime
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New Delhi, Dec 11 (NationPress) India successfully carried out the evacuation of 75 of its citizens from Syria on Tuesday, just two days after rebel forces toppled President Bashar al-Assad's authoritarian government, as reported by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Wednesday.
This operation took place amidst a rapidly worsening security situation in the country following the downfall of the Assad regime. The MEA confirmed the successful mission, stating that the evacuees had reached Lebanon safely and would soon make their way back to India via commercial flights.
The evacuees included 44 ‘zaireen’ from Jammu & Kashmir who were stranded at Saida Zainab. All Indian nationals have successfully crossed into Lebanon and will return to India by available commercial flights, the MEA stated in an official announcement.
India's embassies in Damascus and Beirut coordinated the evacuation, emphasizing the safety of its citizens in the conflict-affected region. The Government of India prioritizes the safety and security of Indian nationals abroad, the statement continued.
The MEA also urged Indian citizens still present in Syria to maintain communication with the Embassy in Damascus for the latest updates. They were encouraged to contact the emergency helpline number (+963 993385973) or email (hoc.damascus@mea.gov.in).
The situation in Syria escalated swiftly after the rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) took control of Damascus, signaling the end of Bashar al-Assad's nearly 14-year reign and the Assad family's five-decade grip on power. Assad has fled the country and is reportedly seeking asylum in Russia.
In light of these events, the MEA previously called for a peaceful and inclusive political transition in Syria. India will continue to closely monitor the situation and advocate for a resolution led by the Syrian people, it stated.
