Operation Sindhu: India Evacuates 292 More Citizens from Iran Amid Escalating Israel-Iran Conflict
New Delhi : India successfully evacuated 292 of its nationals from Iran early Tuesday under Operation Sindhu, a large-scale rescue mission launched to safeguard Indian citizens amid the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict.
The evacuees landed at 3:30 AM IST in New Delhi on a special flight from Mashhad, Iran. “292 Indian nationals were evacuated from Iran on a special flight that arrived in New Delhi from Mashhad at 0330 hrs on 24th June,” said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on X (formerly Twitter).
Since its launch on June 18, Operation Sindhu has facilitated the return of 2,295 Indians from Iran. Just a day earlier, another flight brought back 290 Indians and one Sri Lankan national from Mashhad.
Simultaneously, India is also conducting evacuations from Israel. The Indian Embassy in Israel reported on Monday that 604 Indian nationals have been safely evacuated via Jordan and Egypt under the same mission.
On Tuesday morning, the first batch of 161 Indian nationals from Israel arrived in New Delhi at 8:20 AM IST via Amman, Jordan. Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita welcomed the evacuees at the airport.
Shortly after, another 165 Indians from Israel were flown in on an Indian Air Force C-17 aircraft, landing at 8:45 AM IST. Minister of State Dr. L. Murugan received them upon arrival.
Background: Conflict Timeline
The evacuation comes against the backdrop of intensifying hostilities between Israel and Iran. The crisis began on June 13, when Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, targeting Iranian military and nuclear sites. Iran retaliated through its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) with Operation True Promise 3, striking Israeli fuel and energy infrastructure.
The conflict escalated further with Operation Midnight Hammer, a series of U.S. precision airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities conducted early Sunday.
Despite a ceasefire announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump, tensions remain high. On Tuesday, the Israeli military reported renewed missile attacks from Iran, with three civilian deaths confirmed by emergency services.
India continues to monitor the situation closely and remains committed to ensuring the safety of its citizens abroad.
