Operation Sindhu: 517 Indians Evacuated From Iran Amid Israel-Iran Conflict

Operation Sindhu

Amid rising tensions between Iran and Israel, India has safely evacuated 517 of its citizens from Iran as part of its ongoing evacuation effort, Operation Sindhu. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed the update on Friday.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal announced that a special evacuation flight from Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, landed at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport at 3:00 am on June 21, carrying Indian nationals who had been stranded in Iran.

“Operation Sindhu continues. A special evacuation flight from Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, landed in New Delhi at 0300 hrs on 21st June, bringing Indians from Iran home. With this, so far 517 Indian nationals from Iran have returned,” Jaiswal posted on social platform X.

The Indian Embassy in Tehran, working closely with the MEA, facilitated the evacuation, ensuring the safe return of students, pilgrims, and other Indian citizens. Many evacuees expressed deep gratitude for the swift and efficient action taken by Indian authorities.

Zaffar Abbas Naqvi, who returned with his family, shared their experience. “We were extremely scared after hearing about the attack on Iran. Initially, we stayed indoors and later moved to Mashhad. Once we reached out to the Indian government, their response was so quick and effective—it’s hard to put into words how thankful we are,” he said, extending special thanks to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

Another evacuee, Kulsum, echoed the sentiment: “The situation in Iran was very tense. We were really anxious. The Indian government stood by us and ensured we made it back home safely.”

Mohammad Ali Qazim, who had traveled to Iran on a religious pilgrimage, also praised the government’s efforts in bringing citizens back.

Earlier this week, the first group of evacuees—110 students, including 90 from Kashmir—was moved from northern Iran to Armenia, and then flown back to India.

The need for evacuation arose following a significant escalation in hostilities. The conflict reignited on June 13, when Israel launched airstrikes on Iranian military and nuclear sites as part of “Operation Rising Lion.” In response, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards initiated “Operation True Promise 3,” targeting Israeli energy infrastructure.

The MEA has affirmed that Operation Sindhu will remain active until every Indian citizen who wishes to leave Iran has been safely repatriated.

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