75 Indians Evacuated from Syria Amid Turmoil After Bashar al-Assad’s Fall

Syria Amid Turmoil After Bashar Fall: India evacuated 75 of its nationals from war-torn Syria after rebel forces, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), overthrew President Bashar al-Assad’s authoritarian regime.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed on Wednesday that all evacuees, including 44 ‘zaireen’ from Jammu and Kashmir, have safely reached Lebanon and will soon return to India via commercial flights.

Further, the ministry also advised the Indian nationals in Syria to remain in touch with the Indian Embassy in Damascus.

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“The Government of India accords the highest priority to the safety and security of Indian nationals abroad. Indian nationals remaining in Syria are advised to stay in touch with the Indian Embassy in Damascus at their emergency helpline number +963 993385973 (also on WhatsApp) and email ID (hoc.damascus@mea.gov.in) for updates. The Government will continue to monitor the situation closely,” the statement read.

A statement from the MEA highlighted the evacuation as a response to “recent developments in that country” and emphasized India’s commitment to the safety of its citizens abroad.

it said, “The evacuation, coordinated by the embassies of India in Damascus and Beirut, was put into effect following our assessment of the security situation and requests from Indian nationals in Syria.”

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The situation in Syria remains a focal point after Syrian rebels on Sunday entered Damascus, forcing President Bashar al-Assad to flee from the country, ending his over two-decade rule in the country.

Russia has granted asylum to Assad and his family, TASS reported citing a Kremlin source. The source confirmed that Assad and his family have arrived in Moscow and Russia has granted asylum for them, being driven by "humanitarian considerations."

One of the evacuees, Mohammad Khan, expressed relief upon reaching safety: “We were terrified; we didn’t know what would happen next. I am grateful to the Indian government for bringing us home.” Such personal stories underscore the emotional toll on individuals caught in conflict zones and highlight the importance of timely intervention.

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