India Evacuates 75 Nationals from Syria Amidst Turmoil Following Assad's Fall

New Delhi — Amid escalating conflict in Syria after the fall of President Bashar al-Assad's government, India successfully evacuated 75 of its nationals from the war-torn country. The operation, carried out two days after rebel forces ousted Assad from power, was a coordinated effort by India's embassies in Damascus and Beirut.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a statement late on Tuesday confirming that all 75 Indian nationals, including 44 pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir stranded at Saida Zainab, had safely crossed into neighboring Lebanon. The evacuees are set to return to India by commercial flights at the earliest opportunity.

"The Government of India today evacuated 75 Indian nationals from Syria, following recent developments in that country," the MEA said, underlining that the operation was based on a detailed assessment of the security situation.

In addition to the Jammu and Kashmir pilgrims, the evacuees also included other Indian nationals who had been trapped in various parts of Syria. The MEA reassured the public that all evacuees were safely moved to Lebanon, where they would await their flight home.

As part of ongoing efforts to ensure the safety of Indian citizens abroad, the Ministry also advised Indian nationals still in Syria to maintain contact with the Indian Embassy in Damascus. “The government will continue to closely monitor the situation,” the statement added.

The evacuation comes amid dramatic developments in Syria, where rebel forces, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), seized control of the capital, Damascus, on Sunday. The fall of the Assad regime marked the collapse of nearly 50 years of rule by the Assad family. President Bashar al-Assad, whose brutal 14-year reign was defined by civil war and widespread human rights abuses, reportedly fled the country and sought asylum in Russia following the rebels' victory.

The MEA also reiterated India's commitment to a peaceful resolution of the Syrian conflict, calling for a "political process that is inclusive and led by the Syrian people."

India has a long history of evacuating its citizens from conflict zones, and the government's swift response reflects the urgency of ensuring the safety of its nationals in the face of escalating violence in Syria.

While the immediate priority remains the safe return of the evacuees, India’s diplomatic efforts will likely focus on ensuring the continued safety of its citizens in the region as the geopolitical landscape in Syria evolves.