India evacuates 75 nationals from Syria

The Government has evacuated 75 Indian nationals from Syria, following recent developments in the West Asian country. The evacuees include 44 ‘zaireen’ from Jammu and Kashmir who were stranded at Saida Zainab. All Indian nationals have safely crossed over to Lebanon and will return by available commercial flights to India. External Affairs Ministry said in a statement that the evacuation was coordinated by the embassies of India in Damascus and Beirut. The evacuation was put into effect following New Delhi’s assessment of the security situation and requests from Indian nationals in Syria.

The Ministry stressed that the Government accords the highest priority to the safety and security of Indian nationals abroad. Indian nationals remaining in Syria have been advised to stay in touch with the Indian Embassy in Damascus at their emergency helpline number +963 993385973 and email ID (hoc.damascus@mea.gov.in) for updates. The government will continue to monitor the situation



closely. 

Meanwhile, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has said that Israel was creating a sterile defence zone in southern Syria to prevent hostile forces from approaching its borders. Speaking during a visit to the Navy base in Haifa, Mr. Katz said, he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had instructed the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to establish the zone, which would be free of weapons and armed threats and created without a permanent Israeli presence.

He added that Israeli forces are currently completing their deployment in the buffer zone and strategic areas to protect the Golan Heights and Israeli citizens. He said they will not allow an extremist Islamic entity to operate against Israel beyond its border and endanger its citizens. Israeli warplanes carried out dozens of attacks on Syrian army bases following an overnight large-scale attack on Tuesday targeting the Syrian fleet and also a research centre with suspected links to chemical weapon production.