Operation Sindhu: 3,180 Indians Brought Home from Warzone, India’s Big Rescue Mission!

National News: As the Israel-Iran war intensified, India responded swiftly by initiating Operation Sindhu—a high-priority evacuation mission to rescue citizens stuck in the conflict zones. On Tuesday, Minister of State Pabitra Margherita announced that a total of 3,180 Indian nationals have been safely brought back to the country. Of these, 2,580 were evacuated from Iran, while 594 arrived from Israel across three flights, alongside 2 Nepalese and 4 Sri Lankan nationals. The mission continues to remain active and responsive to changing ground situations.

Fresh Arrivals from Iran and Israel on June 24

On June 24, 292 Indians were evacuated from Mashhad, Iran. Their flight landed in Delhi at around 3:30 AM. In parallel, 165 citizens from Israel arrived via an Indian Air Force C-17 aircraft routed through Amman, Jordan, reaching Delhi by 8:45 AM. Later the same day, a third flight carrying 268 more Indians from Israel landed safely. This marked the 11th batch from Iran and the third major wave from Israel in under a week.

Mission Objective: Safety First

The core objective of Operation Sindhu is to extract Indian citizens, including students, workers, and tourists, who are trapped in volatile regions of Iran and Israel due to escalating military actions. The Indian government, through its embassies and Ministry of External Affairs, is coordinating evacuation routes via safer corridors such as Jordan and Armenia. These operations are not only time-sensitive but logistically complex, requiring seamless coordination between military aircraft and diplomatic clearances.

Three Flights from Israel, Eleven from Iran So Far

While Iran has seen the largest share of evacuations under the mission, Israel's volatile airspace has made extraction more challenging. Yet, with three successful flights and more underway, India is ensuring no citizen is left behind. Each phase is planned based on ground intelligence, military clearance, and the availability of safe airspace. Emergency cells have been activated in embassies to assist stranded citizens and facilitate departure logistics.

 India’s Pledge to Protect

Reaffirming the government's stance, Minister Pabitra Margherita stated, "The Indian government is committed to the safety of its citizens under any circumstances. Operation Sindhu reflects our promise to bring every Indian back home, no matter where they are." With evacuation routes now functioning consistently, more flights are expected in the coming days as the conflict continues to evolve.