Syria Conflict: MEA Evacuates 75 Indian Citizens Amid Worsening Crisis In War-Torn Nation

India evacuated 75 citizens from Syria on Tuesday amid the crisis following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime. The Indian citizens who were first taken to neighbouring Lebanon will return to India via commercial flights, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.

The MEA confirmed that Indian embassies in Damascus and Beirut coordinated the evacuation after assessing the security situation and responding to requests from Indian citizens in Syria. "All evacuees have reached Lebanon safely," the ministry stated, emphasising the government’s commitment to the safety of Indian nationals abroad.

All 75 Indian nationals evacuated from Syria including 44 ‘zaireen’ from Jammu & Kashmir who were stranded at Saida Zainab, have now reached Beirut. Ambassador @NoorRahman_IFS received them upon their arrival in Beirut. They will return by available commercial flights to India. https://t.co/UWdEDDW7Cj pic.twitter.com/WVGGQ2K12g

— India in Lebanon (Embassy of India, Beirut) (@IndiaInLebanon) December 10, 2024

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Advisory For Indian Citizens In Syria

The MEA advised Indian citizens still in Syria to maintain contact with the Indian Embassy in Damascus as the government continues to monitor the evolving situation in the Middle East closely. The statement underscored that ensuring the well-being of Indians overseas remains a top priority.

The crisis in Syria escalated after rebels captured Damascus on Sunday, forcing Bashar al-Assad to flee. This marked the end of the Assad family’s 53-year rule in Syria. In response to the upheaval, Israel deployed its army to the buffer zone, previously designated as a demilitarised area under an agreement with Syria.

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Russian state media reported that Bashar al-Assad has taken refuge in Moscow. Meanwhile, the Indian government reiterated its advocacy for a peaceful, Syrian-led political process to restore stability in the region.