New Delhi: Amid the escalating conflict between Iran and Israel, India has evacuated 292 Indian nationals from Iran via a special flight that arrived in New Delhi from Mashhad on Tuesday. Overall, India has now brought home a total of 2,295 citizens from Iran. The evacuations are part of India’s ongoing efforts to ensure the safety of its citizens in conflict zones.
Personal Experiences of Evacuated Citizens
Baljinder Kaur, a resident of Punjab who has been living and working in Iran as a Hindi teacher for 21 years, expressed pride in her government’s efforts. She appreciated the support, stating, “It feels great. It is a matter of pride that the government stands with its citizens during tough times.”
Ziva Jaffrey from Nagpur, also evacuated from Iran, shared her relief and happiness. She mentioned that her flight was initially scheduled for June 19 but was canceled, causing anxiety. Reaching safely has brought her peace of mind, she said.
Operation Sindhu Continues
This evacuation is part of India’s ongoing ‘Operation Sindhu,’ aimed at bringing its citizens home safely amid rising regional tensions. Recently, another group of 290 Indian nationals and one Sri Lankan was evacuated from Mashhad in Iran.
Background of the Conflict
The crisis began on June 13 when Israel launched a large-scale airstrike on Iranian military and nuclear sites, called “Operation Rising Lion.” Iran responded with “Operation True Promise 3,” a drone and missile campaign targeting Israeli energy and military infrastructure. The situation intensified further when the US conducted precision airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities under “Operation Midnight Hammer.” Iran retaliated by launching missiles at US military bases in Qatar and Iraq, including the major Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
