All Indians who wished to return home from Syria brought back, says MEA

“We have evacuated all Indian nationals in Syria who wished to return home following recent developments in that country. So far, 77 Indian nationals have been evacuated,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on Friday.

By: Express Web Desk

Updated: December 13, 2024 09:29 PM IST

2 min read

A burnt picture of President Bashar al-Assad hangs from a building, after rebels seized the capital and ousted the president Syria

A burnt picture of President Bashar al-Assad hangs from a building, after rebels seized the capital and ousted the president in Syria. (AP)

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday said that India has evacuated all its nationals from Syria who wished to return home after rebel forces overthrew President Bashar al-Assad’s authoritarian regime in the Arab nation.

The Syrian government collapsed on Sunday when rebels seized control of the capital, Damascus, following the capture of several other key cities and towns.

India completed the evacuation of its citizens on Tuesday.

During the weekly briefing on Friday, December 13, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed the evacuation of 77 Indian nationals from Syria. Among them, 44 were Indian pilgrims stranded in the country, while the remaining 33 were Indian residents living or working there.

The evacuees were transported by road to Lebanon, where the Indian embassy ensured their safe immigration and facilitated their return to India.

“We have evacuated all Indian nationals in Syria who wished to return home following recent developments in that country. So far, 77 Indian nationals have been evacuated,” Jaiswal said.

He stated that embassy personnel in Damascus escorted the evacuees to the border, where India’s mission in Lebanon received them and facilitated their immigration process.

Also read | Explained: Syrian Crisis and its implications for Iran and regional geopolitics

The arrangements for their accommodation in Beirut and subsequent travel to India were handled by the Indian Embassy, Jaiswal added. “Most of our nationals have already returned to India, and the remaining will be arriving later today or tomorrow,” he noted.

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Jaiswal also confirmed that 44 Zaireen, who were on a pilgrimage to Syria, departed Beirut on Thursday to visit other religious sites in the region.

The Indian Embassy in Syria continues to function, he said.

On Monday, India called for a peaceful and inclusive Syrian-led political process to restore stability in the country.

“We are monitoring the situation in Syria in light of ongoing developments. We underline the need for all parties to work towards preserving Syria’s unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity,” the MEA stated.

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“We advocate a peaceful and inclusive Syrian-led political process that respects the interests and aspirations of all sections of Syrian society,” it added.

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