Daijiworld Media Network- New Delhi
New Delhi, Jun 25: In a continued effort to safeguard its citizens amid the escalating Iran-Israel conflict, India has successfully evacuated 282 more nationals from Iran under the ongoing Operation Sindhu. The special flight from Mashhad touched down at Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi, at 12:01 am on Wednesday, taking the total number of evacuees to 2,858.
Confirming the development, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated in a post on X, “282 Indian nationals were evacuated from Iran on a special flight that arrived in New Delhi from Mashhad at 00:01 hrs on 25th June. With this, 2858 Indian nationals have been brought home from Iran.”
The large-scale evacuation comes in the backdrop of severe hostilities between Iran and Israel in recent weeks. A ceasefire agreement, reportedly brokered by the United States on Tuesday, brought some respite to the volatile region.
Upon arrival in New Delhi, evacuees expressed immense gratitude to the Indian government and embassy officials for their tireless efforts in ensuring their safe return. “The situation has improved now, but a few days ago, it was completely unpredictable. The Indian Embassy supported us throughout,” said one returnee.
Another evacuee, Syed Adil Mansoor, shared, “I am feeling relieved. The Indian Embassy worked really hard to bring us back. I am thankful to them and the government.”
Similar sentiments were echoed by Mohammad Asim, who stated, “We just returned from Iran. The arrangements by the Indian authorities were excellent. We did not face any difficulty.”
On Tuesday, a separate special flight had brought home 281 Indians along with three Sri Lankan and two Nepalese citizens. The group was welcomed at the airport by the Minister of State for External Affairs, Pabitra Margherita.
Giving an update, the MEA said: “Operation Sindhu MoS Pabitra Margherita warmly received 281 Indian, 3 Sri Lankan & 2 Nepalese nationals evacuated from Iran. They arrived in New Delhi on a special flight from Mashhad at 1500 hrs on 24 June.”
Speaking to the press, MoS Margherita reaffirmed India’s commitment to helping its citizens and neighbouring countries in times of crisis. “This was the 11th batch from Iran. We have now brought back 2,576 Indians from Iran and 594 from Israel under Operation Sindhu, totaling 3,180 Indian nationals,” he informed.
Meanwhile, global tensions remained high despite the ceasefire announcement. US President Donald Trump confirmed the truce between Iran and Israel following Iran’s missile attacks on US military bases in Qatar and Iraq. However, within hours, renewed hostilities surfaced as Israel reportedly struck a radar installation near Tehran, prompting a retaliatory missile launch by Iran.
Expressing his frustration, Trump criticized both nations, stating, “They’ve been fighting so long and so hard that they don’t know what the they’re doing.”
Later, Israel’s Prime Minister’s Office announced a halt to further strikes after discussions with the US President.
The region witnessed a dangerous escalation earlier this month when Israel launched coordinated strikes on Iranian nuclear and military sites on June 13. Iran retaliated with attacks on Israeli military bases, leading to US intervention through precision strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.
As the situation unfolds, Operation Sindhu continues to play a vital role in ensuring the safety and repatriation of Indian citizens caught in the crossfire.