On Wednesday, December 11, the Indian government evacuated 75 nationals from Syria, two days after the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s government as rebels made significant advances in Damascus. Among the evacuees were 44 ‘zaireen’ from Jammu & Kashmir, who had been stranded in Saida Zainab.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed that all Indian nationals had safely crossed into Lebanon and would return to India via available commercial flights.
“The evacuation, coordinated by the Indian embassies in Damascus and Beirut, was carried out following an assessment of the security situation and requests from Indian nationals in Syria,” the MEA said in a statement.
“The Government of India prioritizes the safety and security of Indian nationals abroad. Indian citizens still in Syria are advised to stay in touch with the Indian Embassy in Damascus through the emergency helpline number +963 993385973 (also available on WhatsApp) or via email at [email protected] for updates. The Government will continue to monitor the situation closely,” it added.
The Indian embassy in Damascus remains operational, with approximately 90 Indian nationals currently in Syria, including 14 working with various UN organizations, according to official data.
“Our Embassy continues to operate in Damascus and is in contact with all Indian nationals, who are safe,” a source confirmed.
Government sources stated on Sunday that all Indian nationals in Syria are safe, just hours after Islamist rebels seized power in Damascus, ousting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
The Syrian government collapsed early Sunday as rebels took control of the capital, forcing Assad to flee to Moscow, marking the end of his family’s 50-year rule. He has been granted asylum in Moscow on humanitarian grounds.
