Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Jun 26: India on Thursday extended heartfelt thanks to six countries — Israel, Iran, Jordan, Egypt, Armenia, and Turkmenistan — for their cooperation in the successful evacuation of Indian nationals under Operation Sindhu, which was launched on June 18 amid escalating conflict in West Asia.

At a weekly media briefing, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed that 14 evacuation flights have so far been mounted from Iran, Armenia, and Turkmenistan. The final flight from Armenia was scheduled to arrive in New Delhi later in the evening.

Indian nationals stranded in Israel were also routed through Jordan and Egypt, due to airspace closures. “We thank the governments of Israel, Jordan, and Egypt for their assistance. We are also grateful to Iran for opening its airspace on our request, and to Armenia and Turkmenistan for enabling smooth evacuations,” Jaiswal said.

According to the MEA, approximately 3,426 Indian nationals, 11 OCI card holders, nine Nepalese, some Sri Lankan nationals, and one Iranian national (an Indian spouse) have been brought back from Iran. From Israel, 818 Indians have returned home on four special flights, including the latest batch of 224 citizens evacuated by the Indian Air Force on Wednesday.

One of the largest airlifts occurred earlier on Thursday, with 275 evacuees (272 Indians and 3 Nepalese) arriving in New Delhi from Mashhad, Iran.

The evacuation of citizens continues to be a high priority for the Indian government. “We are monitoring the situation closely. Since a ceasefire is now in effect, we will review conditions on the ground before deciding on the continuation of Operation Sindhu,” Jaiswal noted.

Minister of State Shobha Karandlaje welcomed evacuees at the airport, as the government reiterated its commitment to safeguarding Indian nationals abroad.